SEATTLE—Kenny Easley, the Pro Football Hall of Fame recipient renowned for his hard-hitting style during his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks, passed away on November 14, 2025, at the age of 66. His death followed a long period of declining health, though an immediate cause was not disclosed. He had previously undergone triple-bypass heart surgery in 2016 and retired from the NFL due to kidney disease.
The Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, posted to X recognized the loss of a former player who embodied toughness and leadership on the field.
Born Kenneth Mason Easley Jr. on January 15, 1959, in Chesapeake, Virginia, Easley attended Oscar F. Smith High School, where he excelled as a dual-threat quarterback, becoming the first player in Virginia high school history to rush and pass for over 1,000 yards in a single season. At UCLA from 1977 to 1980, he earned consensus All-American honors three times, set school records with 19 interceptions and 324 tackles, and had his No. 5 jersey retired. Easley also played basketball at UCLA and was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1981 NBA Draft but chose football instead.
Selected fourth overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1981 NFL Draft, Easley spent his entire seven-year professional career with the team from 1981 to 1987. Nicknamed “The Enforcer” for his intimidating physicality, Easley quickly established himself as one of the premier defensive backs of the 1980s.
Easley Jr earned AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1981, made five Pro Bowl appearances, and received first-team All-Pro recognition three times. In 1984, Easley was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year—the first safety to win the award since 1973—after leading the league with 10 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
Easley Jr was inducted into the Seahawks Ring of Honor in 2002, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 as a senior candidate—with his No. 45 jersey retired by the Seahawks that year—the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991, the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Over his career, he amassed 32 interceptions for 538 yards and three touchdowns, 11 fumble recoveries, eight sacks, and 498 tackles.
Easley’s career was cut short after the 1987 season due to a diagnosis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, a severe kidney condition, leading to his retirement following a failed trade to the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988. He underwent a kidney transplant in 1990 and later sued the Seahawks, alleging that the overuse of pain medication contributed to his illness which was settled out of court.
Post-retirement, Easley Jr ventured into business, owning the Alderwood Oldsmobile & Cadillac dealership in Lynnwood, WA, under a General Motors minority ownership program, and serving as president of the African American Dealers Association.
A significant part of Easley’s legacy also involves his contributions to Rise Up Academy, he co-founded in 1999 with Dr. Paul A. Stoot Sr. Rise Up Academy provides early learning and after-school programs for children ages 2½ to 12, with a focus on serving low-income Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) families.
“Kenny was not just a Hall of Famer or a Seahawks legend to me, he was family,” Dr. Stoot Sr provided in a statement to the Lynnwood Times. “Someone I trusted, laughed with, prayed with, and built a dream with. When Rise Up Academy was nothing more than an idea in my heart in 1999, Kenny was the first one to say he believed in it. He handed me the very first donation, one thousand dollars, and stood by my side as we opened our doors.”
In the new school being built, Dr. Stoot informed the Lynnwood Times that it will be named the “Kenny Easley” site after a man who paved the way for hundreds of children to receive high-quality academics and nutritious meals that bridged the achievement gap.
Easley’s involvement with Rise Up Academy also included hosting the annual Celebrity Golf Classic, such as the 14th edition in July 2025 at Mill Creek Country Club, which raised over $270,000 to fund programs, campus development, and student resources.
“Kenny’s legacy lives in every classroom at Rise Up Academy, said Dr. Stoot Sr. “It lives in every child who finds their footing and in every dream we continue to fight for. My brother, thank you for believing in me, for believing in this mission, and for giving so much of yourself to this community. We lost two greats this week: Lenny Wilkens and Kenny Easley. Their impact will outlive us all.”
Easley Jr is survived by his wife, Gail, and children Kendrick, Gabrielle, and Giordanna.
Author: Mario Lotmore
