Fredd Young, the hard-hitting linebacker who made four consecutive Pro Bowls with the Seattle Seahawks in the 1980s, died Tuesday. He was 64.
Young’s death was announced Wednesday by New Mexico State, his college alma mater, and the Seahawks. A cause of death was not disclosed.
A native of Dallas, Young played football and basketball at Woodrow Wilson High School before becoming a standout at New Mexico State. He played for the Aggies from 1980-83, becoming a four-year starter and earning first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 1982.
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The following season, he was an honorable mention All-American after leading New Mexico State with 140 tackles and recording 12 sacks. He finished his college career with 393 tackles.
The Seahawks selected Young in the third round, 76th overall, of the 1984 NFL Draft. He immediately established himself on special teams, earning Pro Bowl recognition as a rookie and becoming the first player who was not a return specialist to make the Pro Bowl as a special-teams player.
Young moved into a starting linebacker role in his second season and continued to make the Pro Bowl through 1987. That final season was his most productive in Seattle. He recorded nine sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and an interception in 13 games, earning first-team All-Pro honors.
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Young played four seasons with Seattle before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 1988 for two first-round draft picks following a contract dispute. He spent three seasons with Indianapolis and retired after the 1990 season. In seven NFL seasons, he appeared in 101 regular-season games, starting 79, and recorded 21 sacks and three interceptions.
In 2025, the Seahawks named Young one of the top 50 players in franchise history as part of the team’s 50th-season celebration. New Mexico State inducted him into its athletics Hall of Fame in 1991 and later its Football Ring of Honor.
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