Full Breakdown
Charle Young, Hall of Fame Tight End and Super Bowl Champion, Dies at 75
5/13/2026, 9:11:56 AM
Death Announcement and Immediate Reactions
Charle Young died on May 12, 2026, at age 75. The San Francisco 49ers announced the news after being notified by his wife, and the Seattle Seahawks issued a press release confirming his passing. Neither organization disclosed a cause of death.
Early Life, College Success, and NFL Entry
Born in Fresno, California, Young became a unanimous All-American at USC in 1972 and helped the Trojans win the national championship. He finished college with 62 catches for 998 yards and 10 touchdowns, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted him sixth overall in 1973.
Rise with the Philadelphia Eagles and Early Accolades
Young’s rookie season yielded 55 catches for 854 yards and six touchdowns, earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl—one of only three Eagles to achieve that. He added Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors in the next two years, finishing his three-year tenure with about 150 catches and 2,200 yards.
Role in the San Francisco 49ers Dynasty
Young joined the 49ers in 1980. In the 1981 playoffs he caught Joe Montana’s first postseason touchdown against the New York Giants and made a key third-down conversion in the NFC Championship that preceded Dwight Clark’s “The Catch.” He started Super Bowl XVI, helping San Francisco win its first championship.
Leadership and Milestones with the Seattle Seahawks
Chuck Knox signed Young in 1983; he helped Seattle reach its first playoffs, recording 36 catches for 529 yards—a franchise tight-end record. His 28-yard catch in wild-card win over Denver set up a touchdown. As offensive captain in 1984, Young guided the Seahawks to a 12-4 record, best in team history until 2013.
Career Statistics Overview
Young retired after 13 seasons with 418 receptions for 5,106 yards and 27 touchdowns. He appeared in 13 postseason games. With Seattle he added 97 catches for 1,217 yards and five touchdowns.
Official Statements & Responses
The 49ers announced Young’s death, learned from his wife, and thanked him for contributions. The Seahawks issued a press release confirming his passing and highlighted his role in their first playoff runs. Former coach Chuck Knox recalled Young’s “influence on practice and preparation” when reflecting on his retirement.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Both teams withheld the cause of death, leaving the circumstances undisclosed. Media outlets differ on the spelling of his first name—Charlie, Charley, Charle, and Charles—reflecting Young’s own 1982 decision to adopt the spelling “Charle.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “First of all, I was a blessed man and I played with some great people,” — Charle Young, 2017 interview with the Philadelphia Eagles website.
- “I had 13 wonderful years. I came into this game a winner, and I left this game a winner. I always tried to conduct myself in a manly type of way.” — Charle Young, retirement announcement, 1985.
- “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,” — Charle Young, 2017 interview.
- “They thought they had better call me Charlie or Chuck.” — Charle Young, explaining his 1982 name change.
