Kenny Easley, the Seattle Seahawks legendary safety and Pro Football Hall of Famer, has died. He was 66.
Easley died of natural causes on Friday, according to a news release from UCLA football, where he starred from 1977-80.
The Seahawks issued a statement remembering the late Easley.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks Legend Kenny Easley,” the team said 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 of the best players of all-time.”
A three-time All-American at UCLA, Easley earned the nickname “The Enforcer” due to his physical style of play. He wore the No. 5 at UCLA and an “F5″ helmet decal as a reference to the highest number in the tornado intensity rating system at the time, according to his Pro Football Hall of Fame bio.
“If you’re not going to be the biggest force on the field today, don’t put that helmet on,” Easley once said.
Easley played his entire seven-year career with Seattle after he was selected by the Seahawks with the fourth pick in the 1980 NFL Draft. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 1984 when he led the league with 10 interceptions and two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Overall, Easley earned three All-Pro honors and five Pro Bowl selections in his seven NFL seasons. He finished his career with 32 interceptions, including three for touchdowns, 11 fumble recoveries, nine forced fumbles and eight sacks in 89 games.
Easley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
“Kenny always gave his all and held the game and his life at the highest standard,” his wife, Gail, told the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Easley is survived by his wife, Gail, and children, Kendrick, Gabrielle and Giordana.
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