“We’re deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks legend Kenny Easley,” a team statement reads partly. “Kenny embodied what it meant to be a Seahawk by means of his management, toughness, depth, and fearlessness. His intimidating nature and athletic grace made him the most effective gamers of all-time.”
Easley joined the Seahawks as a first-round decide in 1981 and spent his complete profession with the workforce. Inside that span, he racked up quite a few accolades together with 5 Professional Bowl nods. Easley additionally secured first-team All-Professional honors yearly from 1983-85.
The UCLA product received the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award in 1984. Easley was named to the NFL’s All-Decade workforce for the Nineteen Eighties. After a profession which included 95 mixed common and postseason video games, he was included within the Corridor of Fame class of 2017.
Nicknamed ‘the Enforcer,’ Easley developed a fame over the course of his adorned profession for his physicality. He additionally delivered constant performances by way of ball manufacturing, nonetheless. Easley racked up 32 interceptions, main the league with 10 throughout the 1984 marketing campaign (and returning two for touchdowns). He additionally recorded 9 pressured fumbles and was restricted to single digits by way of video games performed solely as soon as in a season.
A kidney ailment resulted in Easley’s profession ending on the age of 28. He sued the workforce over allegations that giant doses of ibuprofen resulted within the harm to his kidneys and that the workforce failed to tell him of the problem throughout his remaining season. A settlement out of court docket was finally reached. The edges reconciled in 2002, and in that 12 months Easley was inducted into the Seahawks’ Ring of Honor.
