Remembering Kenny Easley: Seahawks Legend and Hall of Famer Passes at 66

A Seattle Icon is Gone

The football world mourns the loss of a true icon. Kenny Easley, the legendary Seattle Seahawks safety whose ferocity and skill defined the franchise's first era of greatness, has passed away at the age of 66. The Pro Football Hall of Fame confirmed the news on Friday, November 15, 2025, marking the end of an era for Seahawks fans and the NFL community.

Nicknamed "The Enforcer" for his physical style of play, Easley was more than just a hard hitter – he was a game-changer who elevated the Seahawks from expansion team to legitimate contender during the 1980s.

A Storied Career in Seattle

Easley's journey to Seattle began in 1981 when the Seahawks selected him fourth overall in the NFL Draft out of UCLA, where he was a three-time All-American. His impact was immediate, though he truly flourished under head coach Chuck Knox starting in 1983.

His 1984 season remains one of the most dominant defensive performances in Seahawks history. That year, Easley led the NFL with 10 interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. His performance spearheaded a Seahawks defense that forced an astonishing 63 turnovers – a franchise record that still stands and ranks second in the Super Bowl era only to the 1985 Chicago Bears.

For his efforts, Easley was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Pro honors for the third consecutive season. He would finish his career with five Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro nods, cementing his status as one of the greatest safeties of his generation.

A Bitter Ending and Triumphant Return

Tragically, Easley's career was cut short. A knee injury in 1986 limited him to just 10 games, and he began experiencing kidney problems that he alleged were caused by prescribed painkillers used to manage his football injuries.

After the 1987 season, Easley was traded to the Arizona Cardinals, but the deal was voided when he failed a physical due to kidney damage. His playing days were over at the age of 28, after just 89 games in the NFL. The bitterness that followed led to a 15-year estrangement from the Seahawks organization.

Reconciliation came in 2002 when Seahawks owner Paul Allen reached out to Easley, telling him that no more players would be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor until Easley agreed to be inducted. The move helped heal the wounds, and Easley was inducted into the Ring of Honor that fall.

His vindication was complete in 2017 when Easley was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During his enshrinement speech, he revealed that a triple-bypass surgery had previously plunged him into a deep depression, but "The Hall of Fame was the thing that pulled me out of it."

Leaving a Legacy

Easley's No. 45 jersey has been retired by the Seahawks, joining an elite group of legends whose numbers hang in the stadium. He is one of only four Seahawks players to have their number retired, alongside Steve Largent, Walter Jones, and Cortez Kennedy – all Hall of Famers who spent their entire careers with the team.

After football, Easley returned to his native Virginia and worked in various business ventures, including owning a Cadillac dealership and co-owning the Norfolk Nighthawks of the Arena Football League 2. He is survived by his wife Gail and their three children: son Kendrick and daughters Gabrielle and Giordanna.

As the NFL community remembers Kenny Easley today, we celebrate not just the statistics and accolades, but the passion, intensity, and fearlessness that made him "The Enforcer" – a true Seahawks legend who will forever be remembered as one of the greatest to ever wear the blue and green.