Former Seattle Seahawk Kenny “The Enforcer” Easley Passed Away At 66
His NFL career was short just seven years but he had a huge impact. The former safety instilled fear into the hearts of anyone on the offensive side of the ball. His athletic prowess was on full display when he attended college at UCLA and it continued on into the professional league. But on Friday night his family announced that former Seattle Seahawk Kenny “The Enforcer” Easley passed away at 66. He was described as a dedicated family man and a man of faith.
Easley was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1981 NFL Draft with the No. 4 overall pick. His impact on the game was immediately felt as he went on to win the AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year award. That year he returned three interceptions for 155 yards, including one for an 82-yard touchdown. The rest of his NFL career was equally stunning as he earned AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1983. That year he recorded seven interceptions which he returned for 106 yards and posted a career-high three sacks.
The Associated Press named him NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1984 in which he registered a league-leading and career-best 10 interceptions and two pick-sixes. Easley earned first-team All-Pro honors in four straight seasons from 1982 to 1985. Over his career, Easley amassed 32 interceptions which he returned for 538 yards and three touchdowns in 89 career games. And he was known as a dominant tackler before the stat was tracked. Easley was named to five Pro Bowls and was a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980s.
Former Seattle Seahawk Kenny “The Enforcer” Easley Passed Away At 66
But unfortunately his career ended in 1987 due to a severe kidney ailment, forcing him to retire at age 28. Easley alleged that the Seahawks prescribed him large doses of ibuprofen that damaged his kidneys. And that the team allowed him to play his final season without informing him of the issue. That led to a lawsuit against the team and the two sides settled out of court.
Former Seahawks owner Paul Allen purchased the team in 1997 and initiated a reconciliation between Easley and the team in 2002. In 2002, Gary Wright, then the team’s VP of communications, reached out to Easley seeing if he would be willing to come to Seattle to be enshrined in the team’s Ring of Honor. Later that year Easley was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor and his No. 45 was retired. He was also named one of the 50 greatest players in franchise history this past offseason.
Additionally, he was a three-time All-American at UCLA. His No. 5 was also retired by the university.
Despite making amends with the Seahawks, Easley would have to wait another 15 years before finally getting his call from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Fellow Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lottie a legendary safety himself, advocated for Easley.
“I can tell you many moments of watching Kenny Easley, because that’s what I used to spend my time doing, watching Kenny Easley,” Lott said in a video congratulating Easley on his enshrinement. “The reason why? There was no one that got me excited about playing the game of football than when I watched him… There’s no one more deserving.”
Why it took so long for Easley to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is a mystery. Perhaps because he only played seven seasons? At any rate he belongs in the Hall as he worked hard to get there.
Many Mourn The Passing of Legendary Safety Kenny Easley
The Seattle Seahawks posted a statement on the passing of Kenny Easley. And to honor him, “today, the flags at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center are lowered in memory of Kenny Easley, a Seahawk through and through.”
“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. A man of faith, Kenny will forever be remembered as a beloved member of the Seahawks family and his legacy will live on as an inspiration to fans around the world. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Gail, and children Kendrick, Gabrielle and Giordanna.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame also released a statement:
“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.”
And his former alma mater UCLA also weighed in on his passing:
“We mourn the passing of Bruin legend Kenny Easley. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were inspired by him.”
Kenny Easley Gone Too Soon Has Died At 66 Years Old
It’s impossible to imagine safeties like Kenny Easley, Ronnie Lott and Steve Atwater playing in today’s NFL. Tackling sometimes seems like a lost art form. Wrapping up a runner or a quarterback is almost nonexistent nowadays. As some have said before, the league is one-step away from being touch football. It ought to be a happy medium somewhere between ripping a guy’s head off or passively chasing him down the field.
Don’t get it twisted, player safety is important but football is a contact sport. Hence why guys like Easley thrived and made names for themselves. So it’s important to remember the defensive giants who once roved the gridiron. We offer our sympathies and thoughts to the Easley family and friends. Rest easy Kenny, you will be missed.
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