Hall of Fame Seahawks safety Kenny Easley dies at 66

Legendary former Seattle Seahawks safety Kenny Easley died Friday night, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced. He was 66.

The cause of death wasn’t announced, but the Hall of Fame’s release mentioned Easley had long battled health issues.

Easley, one of the all-time greats in Seahawks history, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017. His No. 45 jersey was retired by the Seahawks that fall, making him just the fourth player in franchise history to receive that honor.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks Legend Kenny Easley,” the Seahawks said in a statement Saturday morning. “Kenny embodied what it meant to be a Seahawk through his leadership, intensity, and fearlessness. His intimidating nature and athletic grace made him one of the best players of all-time.”

Rest in peace to a true legend, Kenny Easley. pic.twitter.com/nTclZzxum4

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 15, 2025

Nicknamed “The Enforcer” for his hard-hitting style of play, Easley was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro over a seven-year NFL career that took place exclusively with the Seahawks.

Easley filled up the stat sheet with 32 interceptions, three pick-sixes, eight sacks and nine forced fumbles over 89 career games from 1981 to 1987. He was the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1984, when he had a league-high 10 interceptions, two pick-sixes and three forced fumbles.

“Kenny Easley would have been a dominant safety in any era,” Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said. “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.”

“I’m vicious. No doubt about it. I play the game in a vicious manner.” – Hall of Fame Safety @Easleyforce5 pic.twitter.com/BfGdLiM70S

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 5, 2017

A native of Chesapeake, Va., and a three-time All-American at UCLA, Easley was drafted by Seattle with the No. 4 overall pick in 1981.

Easley quickly emerged as a star and helped propel the Seahawks to their franchise’s first two playoff appearances.

In 1983, Easley recorded seven interceptions, three sacks and a forced fumble while helping Seattle advance to the AFC Championship Game.

And during his 1984 Defensive Player of the Year campaign, Easley was the centerpiece of a Seahawks defense that amassed 63 takeaways – which remains a league record for any team in the Super Bowl era. Seattle went 12-4 that season and reached the AFC Divisional round.

However, Easley’s departure from the Seahawks was marred by controversy.

The Seahawks traded Easley to the Arizona Cardinals following the 1987 season, but the trade was voided when he failed his physical due to a kidney ailment.

Easley never played another down in the NFL and believed the large doses of painkillers he took as a player led to his kidney issues. He also believed the Seahawks knew of the kidney condition and didn’t disclose it to him.

Easley and the Seahawks began to reconcile in 2002 when Paul Allen was the team owner, which coincided with Easley getting inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Honor that fall.

Easley is survived by his wife, Gail, and their three children – Kendrick, Gabrielle and Giordanna.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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