Fredd Young, a name etched into the Emerald City’s football history as a member of the top 50 Seahawks players in franchise history, has passed away at the age of 64. This is a tough one for the 12s, remembering a guy who truly left his mark from the moment he stepped onto the field.
Instant Impact, Immediate Legend
Seattle picked Young 76th overall in the 1984 draft, fresh out of New Mexico State, and he didn’t waste a second making his presence known. He wasn’t just good; he was Pro Bowl good, right from his rookie year in 1984. Think about that: a Pro Bowler as a rookie! Even wilder, he was the first AFC player ever to hit the Pro Bowl for special teams without being a return specialist. That’s innovation, that’s pure grit, and it’s something we still talk about when we remember the early days. He kept that Pro Bowl streak going from ’84 all the way through ’87, and in his fourth and final season with our Hawks, he even earned AP first-team All-Pro honors. What a run!
A Tough Goodbye and Lasting Legacy
It’s always hard to say goodbye to a legend, and it was tough back then too. After a contract fight with the Seahawks, Young was traded to the Colts in 1988 for a pair of first-round picks. Yeah, two first-rounders! That tells you exactly how valuable he was to the league. He then spent three seasons with Indianapolis, capping off a career where he started 79 of his 101 regular-season games. Even after he left, his impact on those early Seahawks teams was undeniable.
Fredd Young’s time here in Seattle might have been shorter than we hoped, but man, did he make it count. He defined what it meant to be a special teams ace and a hard-hitting linebacker, setting a standard for players who came after him. Let’s make sure the next time we’re at Lumen Field, we take a moment to remember a true Seahawk legend.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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