Kenny Easley, Seahawks’ Hall of Fame safety, dies at 66

Easley was nicknamed “The Enforcer” for his hard hitting.

SEATTLE -- Former Seattle Seahawks information Kenny Easley, who was nicknamed “The Enforcer” for his hard hitting, has died, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Saturday. He was 66.

Easley died Friday night, his household told the hall, which did not supply a origin of death.

Easley is 1 of conscionable 4 players successful franchise past — alongside Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy and Walter Jones — to walk his full vocation with the Seahawks and beryllium named to the Hall of Fame, which helium was inducted into successful 2017. Easley's No. 45 was retired by the Seahawks that season.

“We are profoundly saddened by the passing of Seahawks fable Kenny Easley,” the Seahawks said successful a statement. “Kenny embodied what it meant to beryllium a Seahawk done his leadership, toughness, strength and fearlessness. His intimidating quality and diversion grace made him 1 of the champion players of each time.”

The Chesapeake, Virginia, autochthonal was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro subordinate crossed his 7 seasons successful Seattle. The Seahawks drafted Easley retired of UCLA with the No. 4 wide prime successful 1981.

His champion play was successful 1984, erstwhile Easley led the NFL with 10 interceptions and was named antiaircraft subordinate of the twelvemonth by The Associated Press. He was the archetypal subordinate successful franchise past to beryllium named antiaircraft subordinate of the year, doing truthful for a squad that forced a franchise-record 63 turnovers that season.

However, Easley's departure from the Seahawks was marred by controversy. He was traded aft the 1987 season, successful portion due to the fact that of a kidney ailment that shortened his NFL career. He was traded to the Cardinals and failed his physical. He ne'er played different down and believed the ample doses of painkillers helium took arsenic a subordinate led to his kidney issues.

Easley believed the Seahawks knew of the kidney information and didn’t disclose it to him. The Seahawks and Easley started to reconcile successful 2002 erstwhile Paul Allen was the squad owner, which coincided with Easley getting inducted into the ringing of grant that Oct. 14.

Easley finished his vocation with 32 interceptions, which is tied for 4th astir successful franchise history, arsenic good arsenic 11 fumble recoveries, 9 forced fumbles and 8 sacks.

He is survived by his wife, Gail, and their 3 children — his son, Kendrick, and daughters Gabrielle and Giordanna.

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