Kenny Easley, NFL Hall of Famer and college football standout, dies at 66

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Former Seattle Seahawks information and UCLA standout Kenny Easley, who was nicknamed "The Enforcer" for his hard hitting, has died, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Saturday. He was 66.

Easley died Friday night, his household told the hall, which did not supply a origin of death.

Easley is 1 of conscionable 4 players successful franchise past — alongside Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy and Walter Jones — to walk his full vocation with the Seahawks and beryllium named to the Hall of Fame. He was inducted successful 2017 and his No. 45 was retired by the Seahawks that season.

"We are profoundly saddened by the passing of Seahawks fable Kenny Easley," the Seahawks said successful a statement. "Kenny embodied what it meant to beryllium a Seahawk done his leadership, toughness, strength and fearlessness. His intimidating quality and diversion grace made him 1 of the champion players of each time."

The Chesapeake, Virginia, autochthonal was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro subordinate crossed his 7 seasons successful Seattle. The Seahawks drafted Easley retired of UCLA with the No. 4 wide prime successful 1981.

His champion play was successful 1984, erstwhile Easley led the NFL with 10 interceptions and was named antiaircraft subordinate of the twelvemonth by The Associated Press. He was the archetypal subordinate successful franchise past to beryllium named antiaircraft subordinate of the year, doing truthful for a squad that forced a franchise-record 63 turnovers that season.

However, Easley's departure from the Seahawks was marred by controversy. He was traded aft the 1987 season, successful portion due to the fact that of a kidney ailment that shortened his NFL career. He was traded to the Cardinals and failed his physical. He ne'er played different down and believed the ample doses of painkillers helium took arsenic a subordinate led to his kidney issues.

Easley believed the Seahawks knew of the kidney information and didn't disclose it to him. The Seahawks and Easley started to reconcile successful 2002 erstwhile Paul Allen was the squad owner, which coincided with Easley getting inducted into the ringing of grant that fall.

Easley finished his vocation with 32 interceptions, which is tied for 4th astir successful franchise history, arsenic good arsenic 11 fumble recoveries, 9 forced fumbles and 8 sacks.

At UCLA, Easley starred astatine escaped information nether manager Terry Donahue from 1977-1980. He made an immediate interaction for the Bruins, joining the starting lineup arsenic a existent freshman and yet becoming the archetypal subordinate successful Pac-10 past to garner 4 first-team All-Conference accolades.

He was conscionable the 2nd subordinate successful programme past to beryllium voted a three-time statement All-American.

University of Southern California vs University of Los Angeles

Easley inactive holds the UCLA schoolhouse grounds with 19 vocation interceptions, including 13 crossed his archetypal 2 seasons. He ranks 5th connected UCLA's all-time tackles database with 374, with his 93 stops successful 1977 representing the astir by a Bruin existent freshman.

Easley totaled 105 tackles during the 1980 campaign, aft which helium finished ninth successful Heisman Trophy voting. He besides returned punts during his clip astatine UCLA.

His No. 5 jersey was retired by the assemblage and successful 1991, helium was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. While astatine UCLA, Easley besides played inferior varsity hoops for the Bruins, which led to his enactment by the Chicago Bulls successful the 10th circular of the 1981 NBA Draft, though helium ne'er played.

He is survived by his wife, Gail, and their 3 children — son, Kendrick, and daughters Gabrielle Manhertz and Giordanna.

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