Charles Young, a 2004 inductee into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame, died on May 12 at the age of 75.
Born on February 5, 1951, in Fresno, California, Young excelled as a tight end at the University of Southern California, where he helped the Trojans capture the 1972 national title and the Pacific‑8 Conference championship.
That season he became the first Southern California tight end to earn First‑Team All‑America honors, was named USC’s Lineman of the Year, and finished his collegiate career with 68 receptions for 1,008 yards and 10 touchdowns.
A Journey From the Gridiron to the Pulpit
After his playing days, Young entered the ministry in Seattle, where he founded a learning center for at‑risk youths and volunteered with a range of community organizations.
His post‑football life was marked by continued service; he partnered with groups such as the United Way of America, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Society and the Pacific Northwest Athletic Congress, while also remaining active in alumni events and Hall of Fame functions.
Young’s professional football career lasted 13 seasons, during which he played for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. He appeared in four Pro Bowls and contributed to Super Bowl XIV and Super Bowl XVI.
Beyond the field, he was recognized with numerous accolades, including induction into the USC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007 and selection to the Pac‑12 All‑Century Team in 2016.
Friends, teammates and community leaders remember him as a man who carried the same dedication from the locker room into the neighborhoods he served.