The Seattle Seahawks announced they will wear a No. 45 decal on the back of their helmets for the rest of the 2025 season to honor Hall of Fame safety Kenny Easley, who died last week at age 66.
Team headquarters also lowered the 12 flag to half-staff earlier in the week as part of the tribute, according to ESPNâs Brady Henderson.
Seahawks to Wear No. 45 Helmet Sticker for Rest of 2025
Seattleâs tribute will be visible every game day: a â45â sticker on the back of every helmet for the remainder of the year, including Sundayâs Week 12 matchup against the Tennessee Titans and the stretch run that follows.
Easley is one of the most decorated players in franchise history. A Pro Football Hall of Famer and member of the Seahawks Ring of Honor, he spent his entire seven-year NFL career in Seattle after being drafted fourth overall in 1981.Â
His dominance was compressed into a short but brilliant run: three first-team All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowls and the 1984 AP Defensive Player of the Year award before kidney disease cut his career short.
Seattle retired Easleyâs No. 45 in 2017, making him one of only four players in franchise history with a retired number, alongside Steve Largent, Walter Jones and Cortez Kennedy. Now that number will be back on every helmet as a season-long tribute.
In addition to the helmet sticker, the Seahawks plan to honor Easley during their Week 13 home game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field.
What the Kenny Easley Tribute Means for the Seahawks
For longtime Seahawks fans, the 45 decal is instantly recognizable as a symbol of the franchiseâs early defensive identity. Easley, nicknamed âThe Enforcer,â helped power Seattleâs first playoff teams in the 1980s and set the standard for the physical style the organization still celebrates.
Wearing his number gives this yearâs roster a tangible connection to that history as they push toward the postseason. The Seahawks enter Week 12 at 7-3 and 4-1 on the road, heading into Sundayâs game at the Titans as heavy favorites in Nashville.
The tribute also lands in the middle of a critical stretch. After Tennessee, Seattle returns home for three of its next four games, starting with the Vikings in the same game where the team is planning a larger Easley ceremony.
Inside the building, the 45 stickers and the 12 flag at half-staff add an emotional layer to a typical game week. The franchise has already changed its social media imagery to feature Easley and his number, underscoring how central he remains to the Seahawksâ identity even decades after his final snap.
Stats, Schedule & Context for Seahawks and Kenny Easley
- Kenny Easleyâs legacy: 7 seasons with Seattle; five Pro Bowls; three first-team All-Pro selections; 1984 AP Defensive Player of the Year; 32 career interceptions.
- Honors: Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2017; Seahawks Ring of Honor; No. 45 retired by the team.
- Current Seahawks record: 7-3 overall, 4-1 away entering Week 12.
- Upcoming schedule:
- Week 12: at Titans in Nashville on Nov. 23
- Week 13: vs. Vikings at Lumen Field (Easley tribute game)
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