Kenny Easley, the previous hard-hitting Seattle Seahawks security and member of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, died Friday night. He was 66.
Easley spent his total seven-year profession with Seattle. He made 5 Professional Bowls, earned first-team All-Professional honors thrice and was named AFC Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 1984. Nicknamed “The Enforcer” for his bodily model of play, Easley was a member of the Eighties All-Decade Group and was enshrined within the Corridor of Fame in 2017.
“We’re deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks Legend Kenny Easley,” the crew mentioned in a press release. “Kenny embodied what it meant to be a Seahawk by his management, toughness, depth, and fearlessness. His intimidating nature and athletic grace made him among the finest gamers of all-time.”
The Seahawks drafted Easley fourth general out of UCLA in 1981. Over seven seasons, he recorded 32 interceptions — together with a league-high 10 in 1984 — and returned three for touchdowns.
“Kenny Easley would have been a dominant security in any period,” Corridor of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter mentioned in a press release. “When he was enshrined in 2017, he took his rightful place within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame and embraced his soccer immortality. Kenny possessed wonderful ball abilities, however make no mistake: His greatest strengths had been his fearlessness and depth. If you happen to had the ball as an opposing offensive participant, he was going to hit you arduous — and also you had been going to really feel it for some time.”
The Seahawks on Saturday modified the avatar on their X account to Easley’s title and his No. 45, which they retired when he was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 2017.
Easley’s profession ended after the 1987 season attributable to a extreme kidney ailment, forcing him to retire at age 28. He sued the Seahawks, alleging that giant doses of ibuprofen prescribed by the crew broken his kidneys, and that the crew allowed him to play his last season with out informing him of the problem. The 2 sides settled out of court docket.
Former Seahawks proprietor Paul Allen, who purchased the crew in 1997, facilitated a reconciliation with he reached out to Easley in 2002. The crew inducted Easley into its Ring of Honor later that yr. This previous offseason, the Seahawks named Easley on of the 50 biggest gamers in franchise historical past.
“As a person of religion, Kenny will endlessly be remembered as a beloved member of the Seahawks household and his legacy will reside on as inspiration to followers around the globe,” the Seahawks mentioned. “We prolong our honest condolences to his spouse, Gail, and kids Kendrick, Gabrielle and Giordanna.”
