Charle Young

Charle Edward Young — known to teammates, fans, and the faithful alike as "Tree" — was a man whose 6'4" frame was matched only by the size of his heart. Born on February 5, 1951, in Fresno, California, he grew up with an athlete's instincts and a competitor's resolve, excelling in multiple sports at Edison High School before earning a scholarship to the University of Southern California. At USC from 1970 to 1972, Young became something the program had never seen before: a unanimous All-American tight end. In his senior year, he was the anchor of a 12-0 national championship team, earning All-Pac-8 first-team honors and USC's Lineman of the Year award. He finished his collegiate career with 62 receptions for 1,008 yards and 10 touchdowns — a school record for a tight end. The College Football Hall of Fame would enshrine him in 2004, and in 2016 he was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team. Selected sixth overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1973 NFL Draft, Young arrived with the confidence of a man who knew he had a statement to make. He made it immediately, earning NFL Rookie of the Year and first-team All-Pro honors in his debut season, then back-to-back second-team All-Pro selections and three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances from 1973 to 1975. Over 13 professional seasons with the Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks, he amassed 418 receptions for 5,106 yards and 27 touchdowns across 187 regular-season games. His crowning professional moment came with the 49ers: in the 1981 divisional playoff against the New York Giants, Young caught Joe Montana's first career playoff touchdown pass. San Francisco would go on to win Super Bowl XVI — a championship he celebrated as deeply as any in his life. He was also honored that year with the Len Eshmont Award, given to the 49ers' most courageous player. In 1982, Young made a quiet but characteristic decision: he changed the spelling of his first name from "Charlie" to "Charle," explaining simply that he wanted to make things easier for those around him. It was a gesture entirely in keeping with the man he was becoming — an ordained minister, a community builder, and a father who raised five children to compete with pride and integrity. He founded the Charle Young Environmental Learning Center near Seattle, mentoring at-risk youth ages 12 to 21, and gave generously to the United Way, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Society, and the Pacific Northwest Athletic Congress. Charle Young passed away on May 12, 2026. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, and their five children. He was, as he said himself, a blessed man — and those who knew him were blessed in return.