Kenny Easley, the former hard-hitting Seattle Seahawks safety and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died Friday evening. He was 66.
Easley spent his entire seven-year career with Seattle. He made five Pro Bowls, earned first-team All-Pro honors three times and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1984. Nicknamed "The Enforcer" for his physical style of play, Easley was a member of the 1980s All-Decade Team and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2017.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks Legend Kenny Easley," the team said in a statement. "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."
The Seahawks drafted Easley fourth overall out of UCLA in 1981. Over seven seasons, he recorded 32 interceptions -- including a league-high 10 in 1984 -- and returned three for touchdowns.
"Kenny Easley would have been a dominant safety in any era," Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said in a statement. "When he was enshrined in 2017, he took his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and embraced his football immortality. 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."
The Seahawks on Saturday changed the avatar on their X account to Easley's name and his No. 45, which they retired when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
Easley's career ended after the 1987 season due to a severe kidney ailment, forcing him to retire at age 28. He sued the Seahawks, alleging that large doses of ibuprofen prescribed by the team damaged his kidneys, and that the team allowed him to play his final season without informing him of the issue. The two sides settled out of court.
Former Seahawks owner Paul Allen, who bought the team in 1997, facilitated a reconciliation with he reached out to Easley in 2002. The team inducted Easley into its Ring of Honor later that year. This past offseason, the Seahawks named Easley on of the 50 greatest players in franchise history.
"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 Seahawks said. "We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Gail, and children Kendrick, Gabrielle and Giordanna."