Duane Young facts for kids

Duane Young is a former American football player. He was born on May 29, 1968. Duane played as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). A tight end is a player who can block like an offensive lineman and also catch passes like a receiver.

Duane Young played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. Later, he was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the 1991 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL for six seasons. His teams included the Chargers and the Buffalo Bills.

Duane Young's Early Life and High School

Duane Young grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He went to Kalamazoo Central High School. This is where he first played football and showed his talent.

College Football Career

After high school, Duane Young played for the Michigan State Spartans. This is the football team for Michigan State University. He was a very good player during his time there.

Big Ten Conference Achievements

Duane Young received special honors while playing in college. In 1989, he was named to the Second-team All-Big Ten. The Big Ten is a major college sports conference. The next year, in 1990, he was even better. He earned a spot on the First-team All-Big Ten. This means he was one of the best players in the entire conference.

Playing in the NFL

Duane Young was drafted into the NFL in 1991. The 1991 NFL draft is where NFL teams pick new college players. He was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round. This was a big step for him to play professional football.

Time with the San Diego Chargers

Duane played for the Chargers from 1991 to 1995. During these years, he played in many games. He helped his team by blocking for runners and catching passes. He had 38 catches for 405 yards and scored 3 touchdowns in his NFL career.

Later NFL Teams

After his time with the Chargers, Duane Young also played for other teams. He was with the Arizona Cardinals in 1996. Later, in 1998, he played for the Buffalo Bills.

Coaching After Football

After his playing career, Duane Young became a football coach. He has coached many high school teams. He likes to share his knowledge and experience with young players. Most recently, he was the head coach at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo.