Kenny Easley, a hard-hitting safety at UCLA before embarking on a Hall of Fame career with the Seattle Seahawks, has died at the age of 66.
Easley died Friday night, his family told the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which did not provide a cause of death.
The Seahawks released a statement Saturday, remembering Easley as a beloved and inspirational member of the franchise.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks legend Kenny Easley,” the team 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.”
Easley was recruited by UCLA head coach Terry Donahue out of Oscar F. Smith High in South Norfolk, Va., where he was an All-American quarterback and the first player in Virginia high school history to rush and pass for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
With the Bruins, Easley went on to become a three-time consensus All-American free safety from 1977-1980. Nicknamed “The Enforcer,” Easley was the first player in Pac-10 history to be named to four All-Pac-10 first teams.
Easley still holds the program record with 19 career interceptions – with 13 in his first two seasons – and ranks fifth with 374 career tackles. No true freshman has topped his 93 tackles recorded in 1977.
The Seahawks selected Easley fourth overall in the 1981 NFL draft. That season, Easley finished with 107 tackles and three interceptions and was voted AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year. In 1984, Easley nabbed a career-best 10 interceptions – two returned for touchdowns – and was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press.
In seven seasons in Seattle, Easley was a four-time All-Pro first-teamer and was voted to five Pro Bowls. He finished his NFL career with 498 tackles, eight sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries and 32 interceptions.
In 1988, Easley was diagnosed with a severe kidney disease called idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and forced to retire. He eventually underwent a kidney transplant, but his departure from the Seahawks was marred by controversy.
Easley was traded to the Phoenix Cardinals after the 1987 season, in part because of his kidney ailment. He failed his physical with the Cardinals and never played another down, alleging the large doses of painkillers he took as a player led to his kidney issues.
Easley believed the Seahawks knew of the kidney condition and didn’t disclose it to him, leading to a lawsuit that was settled out of court. He and the Seahawks began to reconcile in 2002 when Paul Allen was the team owner, leading to Easley’s induction that year into the Seahawks’ Ring of Honor.
In 2017, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and his No. 45 was retired by the Seahawks.
Easley was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1991. His No. 5 has been retired by UCLA.
Easley is survived by his wife Gail Easley, son Kendrick Easley and daughters Gabrielle Manhertz and Giordanna Easley.