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Renowned Seahawks icon and esteemed Pro Football Hall of Famer Kenny Easley passed away on Friday night at the age of 66.
The Hall of Fame disclosed the news of Easley’s passing but did not specify the cause of his death.
Easley’s entire seven-year NFL career was dedicated to the Seattle Seahawks, having been chosen as the fourth overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft from UCLA.
In a heartfelt statement, the Seahawks expressed their sorrow: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks Legend Kenny Easley. Kenny exemplified the true spirit of a Seahawk with his leadership, toughness, intensity, and fearlessness. His formidable presence and athletic elegance made him one of the greatest players of all time. A man of faith, Kenny will always be cherished as a beloved member of the Seahawks family, and his legacy will continue to inspire fans worldwide. Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Gail, and his children Kendrick, Gabrielle, and Giordanna.”
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks Legend Kenny Easley,” the Seahawks wrote in a statement. “Kenny embodied what it meant to be a Seahawk through his leadership, toughness, intensity, and fearlessness. His intimidating nature and athletic grace made him one the best players of all-time…A man of faith, Kenny will forever be remembered as a beloved member of the Seahawks family and his legacy will live on as an inspiration to fans around the world. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Gail, and children Kendrick, Gabrielle and Giordanna.”
“We mourn the passing of Bruin legend Kenny Easley. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were inspired by him,” UCLA football posted on Saturday.
During his career, the defensive back garnered five Pro Bowl nods and three All-Pro selections, along with being named the first Defensive Player of the Year in Seahawks history in 1984 after amassing 10 interceptions — two of which were returned for touchdowns.
Easley finished his career with 32 interceptions, which is tied for the fourth-most in Seahawks’ history.
Easley nearly went on to play for a different team — the Cardinals — after the 1987 season when he was traded to Arizona. However, during his physical, it was found that Easley had a serious kidney condition.
It prompted him to retire. He received a kidney transplant two years later.
“Kenny Easley would have been a dominant safety in any era. When he was enshrined in 2017, he took his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and embraced his football immortality,” Hall of Fame President and CEO Jim Porter said in a statement Saturday. “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.
“The Hall of Fame staff sends its condolences to Kenny’s wife, Gail, and the entire Easley family.”
Easley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991, the Seahawks Ring of Honor in 2002 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.