University Southern California Trojans
Charles Young, USC’s First All-American Tight End, Dies
May 12, 2026 | Football
LOS ANGELES–Charles Young, USC's first All-American tight end, has died. He was 75.
Young, known both as Charles and Charlie while at USC and nicknamed "Tree", was a unanimous All-American selection in 1972 as the Trojans won the national championship.
The three-year (1970-72) letterman, caught 68 passes in his career for 1,090 yards with 10 touchdowns, including a team-high 29 receptions in 1972 when he also earned All-Conference first team honors. He was selected to play in the 1973 Hula Bowl and Coaches All-America Game.
Young was selected as the sixth overall pick of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and played 13 seasons in the NFL with the Eagles (1973-76), Los Angeles Rams (1977-79), San Francisco 49ers (1980-82) and Seattle Seahawks (1983-85). He played in 187 regular-season games, with 142 starts. He caught 418 passes for 5,106 yards and 27 touchdowns. Young also appeared in 13 postseason games.
He made appearances in four Pro Bowls and in two Super Bowls. With the Rams, he appeared in Super Bowl XIV, and he competed in Super Bowl XVI with the 49ers, which San Francisco won over Cincinnati. Young was named the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1973 as well as a first team All-Pro that same season. He was also a second team All-Pro in 1974 and 1975.
In 2004, Young was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team.
His daughters, Candace, Cerenity and Chanel, competed on the USC track team.
He became a minister in Seattle, where he ran a learning center for at-risk youths.
Young, known both as Charles and Charlie while at USC and nicknamed "Tree", was a unanimous All-American selection in 1972 as the Trojans won the national championship.
The three-year (1970-72) letterman, caught 68 passes in his career for 1,090 yards with 10 touchdowns, including a team-high 29 receptions in 1972 when he also earned All-Conference first team honors. He was selected to play in the 1973 Hula Bowl and Coaches All-America Game.
Young was selected as the sixth overall pick of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and played 13 seasons in the NFL with the Eagles (1973-76), Los Angeles Rams (1977-79), San Francisco 49ers (1980-82) and Seattle Seahawks (1983-85). He played in 187 regular-season games, with 142 starts. He caught 418 passes for 5,106 yards and 27 touchdowns. Young also appeared in 13 postseason games.
He made appearances in four Pro Bowls and in two Super Bowls. With the Rams, he appeared in Super Bowl XIV, and he competed in Super Bowl XVI with the 49ers, which San Francisco won over Cincinnati. Young was named the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1973 as well as a first team All-Pro that same season. He was also a second team All-Pro in 1974 and 1975.
In 2004, Young was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team.
His daughters, Candace, Cerenity and Chanel, competed on the USC track team.
He became a minister in Seattle, where he ran a learning center for at-risk youths.
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