The great Kenny Easley, former hard-hitting safety for the Seattle Seahawks, has left us. He passed away on Friday evening at the age of 66 due to complications from pneumonia. Easley, an iconic figure and inductee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, played his entire seven-year NFL career for the Seahawks. On the field, he built a reputation as an intimidating force.
Easley, who played with a distinguished physicality and earned the moniker of “The Enforcer,” left a legacy that had a long-lasting impact on the sport. Over the course of his career, he was selected to five Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors three times. In 1984, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Year, cementing his legacy even more. His impact on the game was recognized when he was named to the 1980s All-Decade Team.
Easley’s career took an unfortunate turn following the 1987 season. He was dealing with a serious kidney condition at the time — one he would later allege was due to excess ibuprofen dosages given to him by the Seahawks. At the age of 28, he was made to retire, an unfortunate end to a potentially Hall of Fame career. When inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017, the franchise paid homage by retiring his number 45 jersey. This action speaks volumes about the profound and continuous imprint he left on the franchise.
Easley was recently remembered with one of the 50 greatest players in franchise history. This tribute celebrates his lasting impact on the organization. On the field as an athlete, he defined greatness and determination — qualities that impressed everyone from fans to fellow athletes to his own team.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks Legend Kenny Easley,” – The Seahawks
Jim Porter, President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, shared his admiration for Easley’s career:
He continued by saying that the things that made Easley great weren’t limited to his abilities but were found in his fearless approach to the game.
“Kenny Easley would have been a dominant safety in any era.”
Easley’s legacy extends well beyond the numbers and awards. He is remembered, of course, as a man of profound faith and will always be beloved by the Seahawks family.
“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.” – Jim Porter
Easley’s legacy extends beyond statistics and accolades; he is remembered as a man of faith and a beloved member of the Seahawks family.
“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
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