Aug 5, 2017; Canton, OH, USA; Seattle Seahawks former safety Kenny Easley delivers his speech during the Professional Football HOF enshrinement ceremonies at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Seattle Seahawks legendary safety Kenny Easley dies at 66

Originally posted on Seattle Seahawks on SI
By Tim Weaver | Last updated Nov 15, 2025 2:28 PM ET

The Seattle Seahawks have enjoyed some stellar safety play in their history. This year the tradition has continued despite Pro Bowler Julian Love missing most of the season due to injuries.

Ty Okada and Coby Bryant have done exceptional work in his place, continuing the tradition that Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams and Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas led before them.

The greatest of them all though was Kenny Easley, who played for Seattle from 1981-1987. Last night Easley died at 66 years old. Brady Henderson at ESPN was the first to report the news.

Legendary Seahawks safety Kenny Easley, who spent his seven-year, Hall of Fame career in Seattle, passed away last night. He was 66.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) November 15, 2025

Easley was a strong safety and a heavy hitter in an era when that really meant something.

While the rules for the modern NFL might be more favored for the offense, that also meant that in Easley's time it was significantly more dangerous to play the way he did - defined by a physicality that would make even the most-physical safeties in today's game blush.

Kenny Easley only played 7 seasons in the NFL, but his impact was immense.

One of just 5 safeties to ever win Defensive Player of the Year.

Three 1APs, 5 Pro Bowls

32 INTs, 8 sacks, 9 FFs — could hit as well as he could cover.

Rest in peace to a legendpic.twitter.com/9QcPbxxi8v
— Mike Kennedy (@MikeKennedyNFL) November 15, 2025

After playing his college football at UCLA, the Seahawks picked Easley in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft. He was an immediate hit, finishing fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Just three years later, he won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the 1984 season, after totaling a league-best 10 interceptions.

During his short but remarkablet in the NFL, Easley made five Pro Bowl teams and was a three-time first-team All-Pro. He totaled a remarkable 32 interceptions in 89 career games.

This article first appeared on Seattle Seahawks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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