Charle Young, a former All-Pro tight end who helped the San Francisco 49ers win their first Super Bowl and played 13 seasons in the NFL, has died. He was 75.
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The 49ers said they were informed of Young's death by his wife. No cause was disclosed.
Young entered the league as the sixth overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1973 draft and made an immediate impact. He earned All-Pro honors as a rookie after recording 55 receptions for 854 yards and six touchdowns, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons.
He later played for the Los Angeles Rams, helping the team reach the Super Bowl during the 1979 season, before joining the 49ers.
Young arrived in San Francisco during the early stages of a franchise turnaround under coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana. In 1981, he caught 37 passes for 400 yards and five touchdowns as the 49ers won the first Super Bowl title in team history.
He also caught a touchdown pass from Montana in a divisional playoff victory that postseason, marking the first postseason touchdown of the franchise's championship run.
Young spent two seasons with San Francisco before finishing his career with the Seattle Seahawks.
Over 13 seasons, Young totaled 418 receptions for 5,106 yards and 27 touchdowns in 187 games. He was among the league's most productive tight ends of his era and played a role in the foundation of San Francisco's championship success.
