Former NFL star and Super Bowl champion Charle Young has died at the age of 75, ending a football legacy that spanned 13 seasons and included standout performances with four franchises.
Young’s death was announced on Tuesday, May 12, by the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, two of the teams he represented during his celebrated NFL career. According to reports, the 49ers were informed of his passing by his wife. No cause of death has been disclosed.
Widely regarded as one of the most talented tight ends of his generation, Young built an impressive football résumé that began at the University of Southern California, where he starred for the USC Trojans before later earning induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
His professional career took off when the Philadelphia Eagles selected him as the sixth overall pick in the 1973 NFL Draft. Young made an immediate impact, earning Pro Bowl selections in each of his first three seasons and securing first-team All-Pro honors during his rookie year.
After four seasons in Philadelphia, Young joined the Los Angeles Rams in 1977 and later featured in Super Bowl XIV in 1979.
Young’s career reached another major milestone after signing with the 49ers in 1980. He became part of the foundation of the franchise’s dominant 1980s era, famously catching a touchdown pass from Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana during the 1981 divisional playoff victory over the New York Giants — a score remembered as the first postseason touchdown of the 49ers dynasty.
He also contributed to the team’s victory in Super Bowl XVI, helping San Francisco secure the championship during the 1981 season.
In 1983, Young moved to Seattle, where he helped transform the Seahawks into playoff contenders. He started all 16 games in his debut season, playing a key role as the franchise reached the postseason for the first time in team history.
The following year, Young was named the Seahawks’ offensive team captain for the 1984 season, becoming one of only three players to hold the honor during the decade.
Over three seasons with Seattle, he recorded 97 receptions for 1,217 yards and five touchdowns while starting 43 of 45 games.
Young retired after the 1985 season, finishing his NFL career with 418 receptions, 5,106 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns across 187 games.
Reflecting on his career in a 2017 interview, Young emphasized the importance of teamwork over individual accolades.
“When I first came into the league, it was more about individual stats, but I learned quickly that it is the team stats that are most important where you accomplish the ultimate goal — and that’s to win,” he said.
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