Pro Football Hall of Famer Kenny Easley, the legendary Seattle Seahawks defensive back known as “The Enforcer,” died Friday night, his family said Saturday. He was 66.
Easley’s NFL career was short-lived, but his impact at the safety position was long-lasting.
Well known for his dynamic style of play, Easley’s ball-hawking skill set had opposing quarterbacks thinking twice about the deep ball and opposing pass rushers wary of running up the middle for his hard-hitting hits. It was this style of play that earned him the rightful nickname “The Enforcer”.
Despite playing just seven seasons in the NFL, a career cut short by kidney disease, Easley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
“Kenny Easley would have been a dominant safety in any era,” Pro Football 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 immortalized him in football. Kenny had great ball skills, but make no mistake: His greatest strength was 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 find that in the Hall fans. Kenny’s wife, Gail, and the entire Easley family.”
Selected with the 4th overall pick by the Seahawks in the 1981 NFL Draft, Easley made an immediate impact in Seattle and won the AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. He would then go on a four-year streak that is still difficult to match.
From 1982-1985, Easley produced 23 interceptions, eight forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and seven sacks. He earned four Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro honors during the second half of that time.
The 1984 season was Easley’s breakout campaign, producing 10 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and three forced fumbles in 16 games. It earned him the 1984 Defensive Player of the Year award.
After the 1987 season, Easley was traded to the Cardinals. After going through a workout with his new team, Easley was diagnosed with kidney disease. He was forced to retire soon after and underwent a kidney transplant two years later.
After seven seasons in the NFL, Easley produced 32 INTs, including three pick-sixes, nine forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries and 8.0 sacks. He made five Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro lists, and was a member of the 1980 All-Decade Team.
The Seattle Seahawks retired Easley’s number 45 and he is a member of the club’s Hall of Fame.
Easley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, nearly 30 years after playing in the Finals. He was the fourth Seahawk to be drafted in Canton, Ohio, joining Steve Largent, Walter Jones and Cortez Kennedy.
A native of Chesapeake, Virginia, Easley was a three-time All-American at UCLA before taking his talents to the NFL. No. His 5 was also canceled by the university.