Fredd Young, a hard-hitting linebacker who earned Pro Bowl honors in all four of his seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, died Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 64. No cause of death was disclosed.

The Seahawks announced Young's death alongside New Mexico State University, his alma mater. The team named Young one of its top 50 players in franchise history during its 50th anniversary celebration in 2025.

Young arrived in Seattle as a third-round pick out of New Mexico State in 1984. He didn't start a single game as a rookie. He made the Pro Bowl anyway.

That year, he earned the honor as a special teams standout, becoming the first non-returner ever selected to the Pro Bowl as a special teamer, according to the Spokesman-Review.

His hit on Raiders returner Dokie Williams during a Monday night game at the Kingdome in 1984 became one of the franchise's signature plays. The Seahawks went 12-4 that season, the best record in franchise history at the time, powered by special teams regarded as among the NFL's best under coach Chuck Knox and special teams coach Rusty Tillman.

Young took over as a starting linebacker in 1985 and led the Seahawks in tackles three straight years: 118 in 1985, 121 in 1986 and 101 in 1987.

His peak came in 1987, when he recorded nine sacks, forced five fumbles and returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown in a 35-13 win over the Raiders in Los Angeles. He earned first-team All-Pro honors and finished third in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Hall of Famers Reggie White and Bruce Smith, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

His four Pro Bowl selections are tied for eighth in Seahawks history with Richard Sherman, Marshawn Lynch and Kam Chancellor, according to the Seattle Times.

A contract dispute ended his time in Seattle. Young was earning $350,000 while the Seahawks had signed rookie linebacker Brian Bosworth to a 10-year, $11 million deal.

The team traded Young to the Indianapolis Colts before the 1988 season for first-round picks in 1989 and 1990. Seattle later used the 1990 pick in a package to move up and draft Cortez Kennedy, who went on to a Hall of Fame career.

The Colts gave Young a four-year, $5 million contract. He played three seasons in Indianapolis before a dislocated hip forced his retirement at 29. He finished his seven-year NFL career with 21 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and three interceptions in 101 games.

Born Nov. 14, 1961, in Dallas, Young starred in football and basketball at Woodrow Wilson High School before heading to New Mexico State. His 393 career tackles rank fourth all-time in school history. He was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1991, its Football Ring of Honor in 2007 and the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.

The extra "d" in his first name came from college teammate Britt Mayberry, who suggested the change "because he hit so hard it made opposing players stutter."

At his 2024 New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame induction, Young reflected on the physical toll of his career. "It's a really tough sport, and a lot of people don't want to hear about that part," he said. "I've got (then) six grandkids now. They're so fun. That's what I enjoy. I appreciate everything that's going on in my life."

After football, Young settled in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he was a regular at New Mexico State games and local high school sporting events. Three of his sons played college football at FBS programs. In 2023, sons Monroe and Matthew faced each other in the Independence Bowl, Monroe as a receiver at Cal and Matthew as a tight end at Texas Tech.

Young is survived by his wife, Michelle, seven children and seven grandchildren.