Kenny Easley, Former NFL Hall of Famer, Dies at 66

Seattle Seahawks alum and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kenny Easley has died. He was 66.

Easley’s family said he died on Friday, Nov. 14, and the Seattle NFL team confirmed the news in a statement on Saturday, Nov. 15.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks Legend Kenny Easley,” the Seahawks said. “Kenny embodied what it meant to be a Seahawk through his leadership, toughness, intensity and fearlessness. His intimidating nature and athletic grace made him one of the best players of all time.”

“As a man of faith, Kenny will forever be remembered as a beloved member of the Seahawks family, and his legacy will live on as inspiration to fans around the world,” the team added.

Although he was known for his strong career as a defensive back that earned him the nickname “The Enforcer,” Easley only played for seven seasons in the NFL before retiring due to a kidney disease diagnosis.

Originally from Chesapeake, Va., Easley began his football career at UCLA, where he was a three-time All-American and where his jersey — No. 5 — was retired.

Easley was drafted by the Seahawks as the fourth overall pick in 1981. During his seven seasons in the NFL, he recorded 32 interceptions, setting a league record in 1984.

The defense back ended his career after the 1987 season due to his severe kidney disease. He later sued the Seahawks, alleging that large doses of ibuprofen damaged his kidneys and that the team allowed him to play his final season without knowledge of the disease.

Easley and the team later reconciled in the early 2000s, and the Seahawks retired his number, 45, and inducted him into the club’s Ring of Honor in 2002.

He was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, and he finished his career with 498 tackles, eight sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries and 32 interceptions, according to UCLA.

“This Hall of Fame induction is like fire that’s been welled up in my bones, and I can hear the choir singing on this momentous occasion. I get joy when I think about what He’s done for me,” Easley said during his induction speech.

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“Kenny Easley would have been a dominant safety in any era,” Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said in a statement to ESPN.

“When he was enshrined in 2017, he took his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and embraced his football immortality,” Porter continued. “Kenny possessed excellent ball skills, but make no mistake: His biggest strengths were his fearlessness and intensity. If you had the ball as an opposing offensive player, he was going to hit you hard — and you were going to feel it for a while.”

Easley is survived by his wife Gail Easley, son Kendrick Easley and daughters Gabrielle Manhertz and Giordanna Easley.