Charle Young facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Charle Young

Young at USC
No. 86, 87
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1951-02-05)February 5, 1951 Fresno, California, U.S.
Died:	May 12, 2026(2026-05-12) (aged 75)
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	234 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school:	Edison (Fresno)
College:	USC (1970–1972)
NFL Draft:	1973 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6
Career history
Philadelphia Eagles (1973) Los Angeles Rams (1977) San Francisco 49ers (1980) Seattle Seahawks (1983)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XVI) First-team All-Pro (1973) 2× Second-team All-Pro (1974, 1975) 3× Pro Bowl (1973–1975) National champion (1972) Unanimous All-American (1972) Second-team All-American (1971) First-team All-Pac-8 (1972)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 418 Receiving yards: 5,106 Receiving touchdowns: 27
Player stats at PFR
College Football Hall of Fame

Charle Young (born Charles Edward Young on February 5, 1951, and who passed away on May 12, 2026) was a talented American football player. He was famous for playing as a tight end for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). A tight end is a player who can both block for his teammates and catch passes.

Charle Young played college football for the USC Trojans. He was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 1973 NFL draft. During his professional career, he played for the Eagles (1973–1976), the Los Angeles Rams (1977–1979), the San Francisco 49ers (1980–1982), and the Seattle Seahawks (1983–1985).

Early Life and High School Sports

Charle Young grew up in Fresno, California. He went to Edison High School. There, he was a star athlete. He even led his high school basketball team to the valley playoffs. After high school, he decided to focus on football. This led him to a successful college and professional career.

College Football Star

Young became a standout player at the University of Southern California (USC). In 1972, he was named a unanimous First-team All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best college football players in the entire country.

He helped lead USC to win the Pacific-8 Conference title. They also won a national championship in 1972. Young was named USC's Lineman of the Year that same year. He set a school record for tight ends with 62 receptions. Over three seasons, he caught passes for 1,008 yards and scored ten touchdowns. In 2004, he was honored by being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Professional NFL Career

After college, Charle Young joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973. He quickly made an impact, earning Rookie of the Year honors. He played for 13 seasons in the NFL with four different teams.

He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl three times (1973, 1974, and 1975). The Pro Bowl is an all-star game for the best players in the NFL. He also played in Super Bowl XIV with the Los Angeles Rams in 1979.

A New Name and Super Bowl Wins

Charle Young achieved a major career highlight by winning Super Bowl XVI with the San Francisco 49ers in 1981. This was a huge victory for his team.

The following year, he officially changed his first name from Charles to Charle. He explained that people often had trouble spelling or saying his name. He wanted to make it simpler for everyone.

He was also part of a very famous play known as "The Catch". This happened during the 1981 NFC Playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys. It was a crucial play that helped the 49ers win the game. After his time with the 49ers, he also played for the Seattle Seahawks.

Giving Back to the Community

Charle Young was not just a football star; he also cared deeply about his community. He spent time volunteering for many organizations. These included the United Way of America and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Society. He also helped with the Pacific Northwest Athletic Congress.

He volunteered for the 1990 Goodwill Games. He was also a board member for the Wee Care Childcare Center. Charle Young showed that being a great athlete can also mean being a great community leader.

Career Highlights and Statistics

Charle Young had a long and successful career in the NFL. Here are some of his key statistics from his time playing professional football.

Regular Season Statistics

Playoff Statistics