Charle Young facts for kids

Charle Edward Young (born Charlie Edward Young on February 5, 1951) is a famous American football player. He played as a tight end for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Philadelphia Eagles (1973–1976), the Los Angeles Rams (1977–1979), the San Francisco 49ers (1980–1982), and the Seattle Seahawks (1983–1985). Charle Young played college football for the USC Trojans. The Eagles chose him in the first round of the 1973 NFL draft.

Growing Up and High School Sports

Charle Young grew up in Fresno, California. He went to Edison High School there. While in high school, he was a talented athlete. He even led his high school basketball team to the valley playoffs! After high school, he decided to focus on playing football in college and then professionally.

College Football Star

Charle Young was an amazing college football player at the University of Southern California (USC). In 1972, he was named a unanimous first-team All-America player. This means everyone agreed he was one of the best college players in the country. He also played in special games like the Hula Bowl and College All-Star Game.

He was chosen as a First-team All-Conference player. He helped USC win the Pacific-8 Conference title. They also won a national championship in 1972. In 1972, he was named USC's Lineman of the Year. Charle Young set a school record for tight ends with 62 catches. Over his three seasons, he gained 1,008 receiving yards and scored ten touchdowns. Because of his great college career, he was added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Playing in the NFL

After college, Charle Young became a professional football player. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1973 while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played for 13 seasons in the NFL with four different teams.

He was chosen to play in the Pro Bowl three times (1973, 1974, and 1975). He played in Super Bowl XIV with the Los Angeles Rams in 1979. Then, he won Super Bowl XVI with the San Francisco 49ers in 1981.

The year after winning the Super Bowl, he officially changed his first name from Charlie to Charle. He explained that people often had trouble spelling or saying his name. He wanted a shorter name that would be easier for everyone.

Charle Young was also a very important player in a famous moment called "The Catch". This happened during the 1981 NFC Playoffs game against the Dallas Cowboys. He helped his team on an 89-yard drive that led to this legendary play. He also played for the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks during his career. Overall, he had 418 receptions, gained 5,106 receiving yards, and scored 27 receiving touchdowns.

Life After Football

After his football career, Charle Young became involved in helping his community. He volunteers with organizations like the United Way of America. He also helps the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Society and the Pacific Northwest Athletic Congress. He was a volunteer for the 1990 Goodwill Games. He also serves on the board of the Wee Care Childcare Center.