Former Seahawks teammates, NFL figures react to death of Pro Football Hall of Famer Cortez Kennedy

Dave Wyman of 710 ESPN Seattle said he spent half of Tuesday morning hoping that the news originally reported by TMZ wasn’t true. When it was confirmed by Orlando police that legendary Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy died at the age of 48, Wyman said he was in a state of shock.

“It’s hard to process,” Wyman said. “Every time I saw him he looked good and he had lost a lot of weight. He just never did wrong. He was just a good soul, one of the most unselfish teammates I’ve ever had and one of those fun-loving guys.”

Clayton on Cortez Kennedy | Audio: Dave Wyman shares Kennedy stories

Wyman spent three seasons (1990-92) in Seattle with Kennedy, one of the best players in franchise history. Wyman’s final season with Kennedy came when the defensive tackle earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

“He was one of the most disruptive players in the history of the game but also a really good soul,” Wyman said. “Never petty. Never anything but a good teammate. Never uttered an ill word about anybody.”

Fellow 710 ESPN Seattle host Brock Huard played with Kennedy in Seattle in 1999 and 2000, Huard’s first two seasons in the NFL and Kennedy’s last.

“I would say Tez was the kindest and most gentle giant that I ever played with in Seattle,” Huard said. “He didn’t need to take me under his wing in any way, but he had the patience and heart to do so.”

Steve Raible, the voice of the Seahawks broadcasts on 710 ESPN Seattle and KIRO Radio as well as a former Seahawk himself, said Kennedy was the “blueprint” of a defensive tackle and one of the greatest players in franchise history.

“Certainly for Seattle football he was, I’ve heard the word used a couple of times today already, and that’s royalty,” Raible said. “He was that. Anybody that makes it up there into that Ring (of Honor), and you think of the (Jim) Zorns and the (Steve) Largents and the Curt Warners of the world, Cortez stood as high or higher than all.”

Something Raible said made Kennedy’s career so remarkable was that he somehow exceeded lofty expectations as the No. 3 overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft.

“The expectations were great on him. … Everybody knew what a great football player he was, but I don’t even think the experts, the guys who coached him, the guys who scouted him, knew he would become what he did become, ultimately.”

Here are some other reactions to Kennedy’s death from the Seahawks, former teammates, NFL legends and more.

Our 12 Flag at VMAC flies half-staff to honor Seahawks Legend Cortez Kennedy. pic.twitter.com/v98MBkvgyg

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 23, 2017

Heartbroken by this news. We’ve lost an all-time great Seahawk and a truly extraordinary man. Tez will be forever missed. https://t.co/Uek1YEYTRy

— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 23, 2017

RIP Tez. Great ambassador of the game. #Seahawks

— Steve Hutchinson (@poisonpill76) May 23, 2017

In 1990 Seahawks draft Cortez Kennedy 3rd overall. Great career, great man. Now gone at 48. RIP Tez. NFL HOF, Seahawk ROH, ARK. BHOF.

— Jim Zorn (@JimZorn10) May 23, 2017

My heart goes out to Cortez Kennedy and his family #RIP

— jerryrice (@JerryRice) May 23, 2017

Really sad to lose a guy like Cortez Kennedy. A great personality, a great player & I enjoyed competing against him. Prayers to his family.

— John Elway (@johnelway) May 23, 2017

Rest In Peace, Cortez Kennedy. pic.twitter.com/YEw6XH3RDM

— NFL (@NFL) May 23, 2017

A terrible day, RIP to a close friend and great mentor Cortez Kennedy. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

— Jimmy Graham (@TheJimmyGraham) May 23, 2017

RIP to a true legend HALL OF FAMER!!! Cortez Kennedy #cortezkennedy #weallwegot https://t.co/cqM904vOjy

— Ricardo Lockette (@RicardoLockette) May 23, 2017

Terrible news on former @Seahawks defensive lineman, and Hall-Of-Famer, Cortez Kennedy. My thoughts are with his family and teammates… https://t.co/fr1BLNh9Ge

— Steve Raible (@RaibleKIRO7) May 23, 2017

My heart hurts.. we lost a truly great player but even better person… #RIP https://t.co/9zbh0ICupo

— Justin Britt (@JustinBritt68) May 23, 2017

I’m in shock! The great Cortez was just walking through the favility the other day it feels like! RIP to one of the greatest to ever do it🙏🏽

— Cassius Marsh (@KingCash_7191) May 23, 2017

Crushed to hear this.

Despite being one of the best players of all time, Tez’s humility will be what I think of first. https://t.co/PCerQuLHJg

— Matthew Hasselbeck (@Hasselbeck) May 23, 2017

Shocked at Cortez Kennedy passing..1 of the most talented players I ever recruited or coached…a fun loving person a sad day..

— Jimmy Johnson (@JimmyJohnson) May 23, 2017

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