The Emerald City is mourning today as the Seattle Seahawks announced the passing of legendary linebacker Fredd Young. Number 42 wasn’t just a player, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a special teams standout who absolutely defined what it meant to bleed green and blue. Young, drafted in the third round out of New Mexico State by the Seahawks in 1984, left an undeniable mark on our franchise.
A Rookie Ace Who Became a Defensive Force
Can you believe this guy was a Pro Bowler in each of his first four seasons? That’s just wild. As a rookie, he was an All-Pro for his special teams play. Think about that: fresh out of college, making that kind of impact! Head Coach Chuck Knox saw the talent immediately and, by Young’s second year, he was already starting at linebacker. And he delivered, big time. From 1985 to 1987, Fredd led the Seahawks in tackles in three of those four seasons, racking up at least 100 tackles every single one of those years. You wanna talk about consistency and grit? That’s Fredd Young. He was right there on the field when our Hawks laid the smack down on the Los Angeles Raiders, winning 35-13 at the Coliseum back on October 25, 1987. That’s the kind of guy we’re talking about.
A Legacy That Kept On Giving
His best season in the NFL? Gotta be 1987. He notched an incredible nine sacks that year, and get this: he only played in 13 games! Dude was a monster. He got Defensive Player of the Year votes, plus another Pro Bowl nod and an All-Pro nomination. The league knew what was up. And get this, in 2025, on the team’s 50th anniversary, the Seahawks officially named him a Seahawks Legend. Talk about earned recognition! Even after his playing days in Seattle ended with a trade to the Indianapolis Colts, his impact kept resonating. That trade brought us two first-round picks that eventually turned into Andy Heck and, through a trade up, the one and only Cortez Kennedy. How huge is that for our team history? Injuries sadly led to him retiring from the NFL in 1990 after seven seasons, but his legacy was already sealed.
It’s a tough day for the 12s, no doubt about it, remembering a true warrior who gave everything he had for the Emerald City. Fredd Young’s impact, from his dominant play to the draft picks he brought in that shaped our future for years to come, is etched into the very soul of the Seattle Seahawks. Our hearts go out to his wife, Michelle, their children Jessica, Freddy Jr., Matthew, Monroe, Fenix, Jeremiah, and Amirah, and his grandchildren Jaysha, Jarah, Jianika, Titus, Cassius, Justus, and Sunday. Rest in peace, #42. Once a Hawk, always a Hawk.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
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