LEGENDARY safety Kenny Easley has died at 66, the Seattle Seahawks have announced.
His death was confirmed on Saturday morning, with the team saying Easley embodied the club’s core values through “his leadership, intensity, and fearlessness.”
“Kenny embodied what it meant to be a Seahawk through his leadership, toughness, intensity, and fearlessness,” the team said in a statement.
“His intimidating nature and athletic grace made him one the best players of all-time.”
The Seahawks also extended condolences to his wife and three children.
His cause of death has not been made public.
A first-round pick out of UCLA in 1981, Easley immediately became the heartbeat of Seattle’s defense.
Nicknamed “The Enforcer,” he terrorised offences for seven seasons, piling up 32 interceptions and earning Defensive Player of the Year honours in 1984 after a league-best 10 picks.
Easley was a five-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and a central figure on the 1983, ’84 and ’87 Seahawks – the first teams in franchise history to reach the postseason.
His career ended abruptly in 1988 after being diagnosed with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, a severe kidney disease discovered during a physical after Seattle traded him to the Cardinals.
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He retired before ever playing for Arizona and later received a kidney transplant.
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