The Seahawks and NFL history lose a defining defensive presence, Fredd Young, who has died at 64. Young is listed among Seattle's top 50 players and his career is marked by rapid on-field recognition and a notable trade that reshaped his trajectory.
Seattle selected Young with the 76th overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft after his college career at New Mexico State. He earned immediate impact status, making the Pro Bowl each season from 1984 through 1987. In his fourth and final year in Seattle he was named an Associated Press first-team All-Pro, a distinction that capped his run with the franchise.
Young also set an unusual special-teams precedent as a rookie, becoming the first player from the AFC to reach the Pro Bowl as a special-teams selection who was not a return specialist. That early recognition underlined his versatility and value beyond traditional linebacker duties.
Contract negotiations with Seattle ended without resolution and, in 1988, the team traded Young to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round draft picks. He spent three seasons in Indianapolis before concluding his NFL career. Across his time in the league Young appeared in 101 regular-season games and made 79 starts.
Those figures reflect a career that featured standout peaks and a relatively compact span of top-level play. Inclusion on Seattle's list of the franchise's top 50 players confirms how the club remembers his contributions during the team's formative years in the 1980s. Young's rookie-era special-teams milestone and consecutive Pro Bowl selections remain distinctive parts of his legacy.
There are no additional details about circumstances surrounding his death in the material provided. His passing leaves behind a record of early excellence and a trade that remains part of both the Seahawks' and Colts' franchise histories.
