View source for Kenny Easley

{{Short description|American football player (1959–2025)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Kenny Easley
| image       = 1987 Seahawks Police - 02 Kenny Easley (crop).jpg
| alt         =
| caption     = Easley with the [[Seattle Seahawks]] in 1986
| number      = 45
| position    = [[Safety (gridiron football position)|Safety]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1959|1|15}}
| birth_place = [[Chesapeake, Virginia]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2025|11|14|1959|1|15}}
| death_place = 
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 3
| weight_lb   = 206
| high_school = [[Oscar F. Smith High School|Oscar F. Smith]] {{nowrap|([[South Norfolk, Virginia]])}}
| college     = [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]] (1977–1980)
| draftyear   = 1981
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 4
| pastteams   = * [[Seattle Seahawks]] ({{NFL Year|1981|1987}})
| highlights  = * [[AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] (1984)
* 4× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1982 All-Pro Team|1982]]–[[1985 All-Pro Team|1985]])
* Second-team All-Pro ([[1987 All-Pro Team|1987]])
* 5× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1983 Pro Bowl|1982]]–[[1986 Pro Bowl|1985]], [[1988 Pro Bowl|1987]])
* [[List of National Football League annual interceptions leaders|NFL interceptions leader]] (1984)
* [[Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team|PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team#1981|1981]])
* [[NFL 1980s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor]]
* [[Seattle Seahawks#Retired numbers|Seattle Seahawks No. 45]] retired
* 2× [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|Unanimous All-American]] ([[1979 College Football All-America Team|1979]], [[1980 College Football All-America Team|1980]]) 
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1978 College Football All-America Team|1978]])
* 4× First-team [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference football teams|All-Pac-10]] ([[1977 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team|1977]]–[[1980 All-Pacific-10 Conference football team|1980]])
* [[UCLA Bruins football#Retired numbers|UCLA Bruins No. 5]] retired
| statlabel1  = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue1  = 32
| statlabel2  = Interception yards
| statvalue2  = 538
| statlabel3  = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3  = 11
| statlabel4  = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue4  = 8
| statlabel5  = Defensive [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue5  = 3
| pfr         = EaslKe00
| HOF         = kenny-easley
| CollegeHOF  = 1954 
}}

'''Kenneth Mason Easley Jr.''' (January 15, 1959 – November 14, 2025) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who spent his entire seven-year career as a [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]] for the [[Seattle Seahawks]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1981 to 1987. He played [[college football]] for the [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA Bruins]] and was a three-time consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]]. He was selected by the Seahawks in the first round of the [[1981 NFL draft]]. Nicknamed "'''the Enforcer'''",<ref>{{cite web |title=Former UCLA, Seattle Seahawks safety Kenny Easley enters Hall of Fame at last |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/08/03/former-ucla-seattle-seahawks-safety-kenny-easley-enters-hall-of-fame-at-last/ |website=Orange County Register |date=August 3, 2017}}</ref> Easley has been considered among the greatest defensive backs of his era and as one of the Seahawks' greatest players.<ref>{{Cite web|title=1986 McDonald's Seahawks #45 Kenny Easley |work=McDonald's|publisher=McDonald's Corporation|year=1986|url=http://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/9205/cid/914405/1986-McDonald's-Seahawks-45-Kenny-Easley|format=JPG|access-date=November 12, 2017}}</ref>

Easley was a leader of the Seahawks' defense<ref>{{Cite web|title=1987 Topps #183 Kenny Easley |work=Topps|publisher=Topps Chewing Gum, Inc.|year=1987|url=http://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/3240/cid/817913/1987-Topps-183-Kenny-Easley|format=JPG|access-date=November 12, 2017}}</ref> and was named the [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] in 1984. He was a four-time [[All-Pro]] selection and was elected to the [[Pro Bowl]] five times in his career. Easley's career ended after the 1987 season when he was diagnosed with severe [[kidney disease]].

After retirement, Easley owned a [[Cadillac]] dealership and, later, the [[Norfolk Nighthawks]] team from 1999 to 2003. He was inducted into the [[Virginia Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1998 and was voted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2017.

==Early life==
Born on January 15, 1959, Kenny Easley was raised in [[Chesapeake, Virginia]].<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EaslKe00.htm|title=Kenny Easley NFL Statistics|date=2000–2013|work=Pro Football Reference|publisher=Sports Reference LLC.|access-date=July 4, 2013}}</ref> He had sisters and his mother's name was Juanita.<ref name="Seattlering" /> He graduated from its [[Oscar F. Smith High School]] in 1977. He was the first player in the history of [[Virginia]] [[high school football|high-school football]] to [[Rush (gridiron football)|rush]] and [[Forward pass#American and Canadian football|pass]] for more than 1,000 yards in a single season,<ref name="EasleySI">{{cite magazine |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1984/11/12/easleys-something-special<!--http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1122819/1/index.htm-->|title=Easley's Something Special|last=Telander|first=Rick|date=November 12, 1984|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|pages=75–78|access-date=November 17, 2025}}</ref> and was an all-state and All-American selection at [[quarterback]].<ref name="collegehonors">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lvhLAAAAIBAJ&pg=6022,5378325&dq=kenny+easley&hl=en|title=Easley proves easy top pick for Seahawks.|last=McLafferty|first=Terry|date=April 29, 1981|work=Spokesman-Review|location=Spokane, Washington|page=B1}}</ref> In 1996, Oscar F. Smith High School honored Easley and fellow graduates [[Ed Beard (American football)|Ed Beard]] and [[Steve DeLong]] by naming its football stadium Beard-DeLong-Easley Field on September 6.<ref name="honoredstadium">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73152771.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111045103/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73152771.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2013|title="New" Oscar Smith High Dedicates Field To Old Heroes|last=Robinson|first=Tom|date=September 7, 1996|work=The Virginian-Pilot |location=Norfolk|publisher=McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |access-date=September 26, 2012}}</ref>

==College career==
Recruited by as many as 350 colleges, Easley selected the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (UCLA) and played for the [[UCLA Bruins football|Bruins football]] team.<ref name="earlycollege">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xa0_AAAAIBAJ&pg=922,7010946&dq=kenny+easley&hl=en|title=Easley Wants To Be the Best Free Safety.|last=Associated Press|date=September 21, 1978|work=The Junction City Daily Union|page=7|access-date=August 3, 2013}}</ref> He started ten games as a [[true freshman]] in [[1977 UCLA Bruins football team|1977]], recording nine [[interception]]s and was named to his first [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference football teams|All-Pac-10]] squad.<ref name="earlycollege"/> His 93 [[tackle (football move)|tackles]] established a school record for tackles by a [[true freshman]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Myles Jack Bio|work=UCLABruins.com|url=http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30500&ATCLID=208818570|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref> He later became the first player in conference history to be honored as all-conference for four consecutive years.<ref name="collegehonors"/> Playing from 1977 to [[1980 UCLA Bruins football team|1980]], Easley finished his college career with a school-record 19 interceptions and 374 tackles, along with 45 [[punt return]]s for 454 yards.<ref>{{cite web|title=2025 UCLA Football Information Guide|page=75|url=https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/uclabruins.com/documents/2025/7/24/2025_Guide_5-7_Records.pdf?timestamp=20250724084125|access-date=November 17, 2025}}</ref>

Easley was a three-time consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] selection ([[1978 College Football All-America Team|1978]], [[1979 College Football All-America Team|1979]], [[1980 College Football All-America Team|1980]]) and finished ninth in the [[Heisman Trophy]] balloting in [[1980 NCAA Division I-A football season#Heisman Trophy|1980]],<ref name="collegehonors"/> when he recorded 105 tackles as a [[senior (education)|senior]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Bolch|title=Kenny Easley, one of the most dominant defenders in UCLA and NFL history, dies at 66|date=November 15, 2025|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2025-11-15/ucla-hall-of-famer-kenny-easley-dies-at-66|url-access=subscription|access-date=November 17, 2025}}</ref> He also played basketball at the [[Junior varsity team|junior-varsity]] level for UCLA and was selected by the [[1981–82 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago Bulls]] in the tenth round of the [[1981 NBA draft]], but he did not play professionally.<ref name="EasleySI"/><ref name="NBABulls">{{cite news|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/281046560|title=Notes on a Scorecard|last=Malamud|first=Allan|date=March 27, 1990|work=Los Angeles Times|page=3|access-date=July 31, 2013|archive-date=November 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117225345/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/281046560.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar%2027,%201990&author=ALLAN%20MALAMUD&pub=Los%20Angeles%20Times%20(pre-1997%20Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=&desc=Notes%20on%20a%20Scorecard|id={{ProQuest|281046560}} |url-status=live|quote=Kenny Easley was picked by the Chicago Bulls but opted for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. . . .}}{{Subscription required}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Easley was the fourth overall pick<!--in the first round--> of the [[1981 NFL draft]], selected by the Seattle Seahawks.<ref name=eztpk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lvhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bu4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6807%2C5377689 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=McLafferty |first=Terry |title=Easley proves easy top pick for Seahawks |date=April 29, 1981 |page=B1}}</ref> He became an immediate starter as a rookie in [[1981 Seattle Seahawks season|1981]], recording three interceptions for 155 yards and one [[touchdown]], earning him AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. In [[1983 Seattle Seahawks season|1983]], the Seahawks hired former [[Buffalo Bills]] coach [[Chuck Knox]] as their head coach and Easley immediately became the "backbone" of Knox's defense.<ref name="backbone">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8018155.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610081537/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8018155.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|title=Seahawks Bucking the Trend? LeagueConcerned That Their Offer to Bosworth Could Upset Salary Picture|last=McDonough|first=Will|date=July 5, 1987|work=The Boston Glove|publisher=|access-date=April 19, 2012}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> In his first season playing for Knox, Easley won the [[Kansas City Committee of 101 Awards#Defensive Player of the Year Awards|AFC Defensive Player of the Year Award]] and recorded seven interceptions. In [[1984 Seattle Seahawks season|1984]], Easley led the NFL in interceptions with ten, which tied a club record.<ref name="consecutiveProBowl">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64608893.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125054804/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64608893.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 25, 2013|title=Hawks Sending Three To Pro Bowl, Sinclair, Springs, Brown Earn Honor|last=Farnsworth|first=Claire|date=December 17, 1998|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|publisher=Hearst Communications Inc. |access-date=September 24, 2012}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> He returned two of them for touchdowns and was named as the [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year]], the first safety awarded since [[Dick Anderson]] in 1973. In [[1984 Seattle Seahawks season|1984]], during a 45–0 win over the [[1984 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] in the [[Kingdome]] on November 4, the Seahawks returned four interceptions for touchdowns, including one caught by Easley, breaking the record for most touchdowns scored from an interception in a game.<ref name=ertnd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c1hWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B-8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6747%2C2991275 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |last=Cour |first=Jim |title=Early returns gives Seattle landslide win |date=November 5, 1984 |page=B1}}</ref><ref name=shssen>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=roRTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oYYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6558%2C5238189 |work=The Bulletin |location=Bend, Oregon |agency=UPI |last=Green |first=Tom |title=Seahawk secondary sensational |date=November 5, 1984 |page=D1}}</ref><ref name="endera">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64654786.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125033755/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64654786.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 25, 2013|title=End of an Era|date=February 2, 1996|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|publisher=Hearst Communications Inc |access-date=September 24, 2012}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> He took over the role of the team's main [[punt returner]] when [[Paul Johns (American football)|Paul Johns]] got injured earlier in the season.<ref name="EasleySI"/>

After the season, Easley signed a five-year contract to stay with the Seahawks, averaging [[United States dollar|$]]650,000 a year plus incentives.<ref name="hugecontract">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/23/sports/sports-people-easley-gets-big-pact.html|title=Sports People; Easley Gets Big Pact|last=Associated Press|date=January 23, 1985|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 19, 2012}}</ref> The contract made him one of the highest paid defensive players in the league.<ref name="hugecontract"/> In [[1985 Seattle Seahawks season|1985]], he was selected for his fourth consecutive [[Pro Bowl]], a team record until [[defensive tackle]] [[Cortez Kennedy]] was selected for his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl in [[1995 Seattle Seahawks season|1995]].<ref name="consecutiveProBowl"/> He was injured for most of the [[1986 Seattle Seahawks season|1986 season]]; he hurt his knee against the [[1986 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] on October 11,<ref name="injuredknee">{{cite news|last=Associated Press|title =Raiders hard team to beat|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=October 12, 1986|access-date=April 19, 2012|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3790156.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610081535/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3790156.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014}} {{Subscription required}}</ref> and the next month, missed the remainder of the season due to ankle surgery.<ref name="restofseason">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/21/sports/sports-people-comings-and-goings.html|title=Sports People; Comings and Goings|last=Associated Press|date=November 21, 1986|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 19, 2012}}</ref> In December, Easley was rumored to be in the {{not a typo|trading block}} as the Seahawks were attempting to get the first overall pick in the [[1987 NFL draft]] from the [[1987 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], in order to draft [[quarterback]] [[Vinny Testaverde]].<ref name="traderumor">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3800591.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610081539/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3800591.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|title=Gault frosted by icy Bears' practice field|last=Hewitt|first=Brian|date=December 14, 1986|work=Chicago Sun-Times|publisher=|access-date=April 19, 2012}}{{Subscription required}}</ref>

In [[1987 Seattle Seahawks season|1987]], Easley was the Seahawks' player representative and a leading figure in the [[1987 NFL strike]].<ref name="playerrepresentative">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1344745.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610054225/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1344745.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|title=As Most Players Go Out, a Few, Like Raiders' Wilson, Go In Series: The NFL Strike|last=Wilbon|first=Michael|date=September 23, 1987|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=|access-date=April 19, 2012}}</ref> Seeking a new [[collective bargaining agreement|collective-bargaining agreement]] with [[free agency]] a major factor, the head of the [[National Football League Players Association]], [[Gene Upshaw]] managed to convince him and hundreds of his fellow NFL players to go on strike. As a response, the league decided to use replacement players to fill up their rosters, along with a few veterans who crossed the "[[Picketing (protest)|picket line]]".<ref name="strikehead">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8029579.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610054027/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8029579.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|title=Meeting Solidifies Player Unity First Session Between Upshaw and Union Members Turns Into Rally|last=Borges|first=Ron|date=September 28, 1987|work=The Boston Globe|publisher=The New York Times Company.|access-date=September 25, 2012}}</ref> When former teammate [[Jim Zorn]] offered his services to the Seahawks, Easley said:

{{blockquote|He obviously is either desperate to play in the NFL or desperate for money. Here's a guy who played in the NFL for a long time and who was adored and was admired by his fans and teammates. Now, he turns his back on us.<ref name="playerrepresentative"/>}}

Easley warned his fellow players that he was against the idea of using violence against the replacement players to prove a point.<ref name="playerrepresentative"/> Once the strike ended, he had an off-year as the Seahawks passing defense fell to 25th in the league.<ref name="offyear">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3861442.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610060051/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3861442.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|title=Seahawks streaky, efficient|last=Associated Press|date=December 20, 1987|work=Chicago Sun-Times|publisher=|access-date=April 19, 2012}}</ref> His last game was a 23–20 overtime loss to the [[1987 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]] in the wild card game of the 1987 NFL playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kenny Easley Career Game Log|work=Pro Football Reference|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EaslKe00/gamelog/|access-date=November 15, 2025}}</ref>

===Trade and retirement===
Prior to the 1988 season, the Seahawks offered Easley to several clubs in an attempt to get a quarterback in return.<ref name="1988rumors">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8056193.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610081531/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8056193.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|title=Making a Pass at Quarterbacks|last=McDonough|first=Will|date=April 3, 1988|work=The Boston Globe|publisher=|access-date=April 19, 2012}}</ref> His declining play, which was partially blamed on his work during the strike and the blossoming of Easley's backup [[Paul Moyer (American football)|Paul Moyer]], had made Easley expendable.<ref name="1988rumors"/> On April 22, 1988, the Seahawks traded him to the [[1988 Phoenix Cardinals season|Phoenix Cardinals]] for quarterback [[Kelly Stouffer]].<ref name="Trade">{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5D8173BF93BA15757C0A96E948260|title=Retirement Near|last=Associated Press|date=April 28, 1988|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 22, 2006}}</ref> During the mandatory team physical, Easley was diagnosed with [[idiopathic nephrotic syndrome]], a severe kidney disease which voided the trade.<ref name="kidney">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/21/sports/sports-people-easley-plans-to-retire.html|title=Sports People; Easley Plans to Retire|last=Associated Press|date=May 21, 1988|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 16, 2012}}</ref><ref name="advil">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1142115.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924183654/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1142115.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|title=Easley's Lawsuit Puts Medication on Defense; Ex-Seahawk Cites Over-the-Counter Drug|last=Almond|first=Elliott|date=August 12, 1990|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Washingtonpost Newsweek Interactive|access-date=September 25, 2012}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> He had told Moyer that he thought his days with the Seahawks were numbered because of his involvement in the player's strike. He was not surprised when the trade happened but the kidney diagnosis had "shocked" him.<ref name="shockedMoyer">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ocY_AAAAIBAJ&pg=2323,6736653&dq=kenny+easley&hl=en|title=Kidney ailment sidelines Kenny Easley|date=May 15, 1988|work=The Youngstown Vindicator|publisher=Associated Press|pages=D–12|access-date=December 1, 2012}}</ref> The Seahawks offered several draft picks as compensation to the Cardinals to complete the trade and Easley announced his retirement a few months later.<ref name="kidney"/>

Easley filed a lawsuit against the Seahawks, and the team doctors saying that an overdose of [[Advil]] ([[ibuprofen]]) for an ankle injury a few years before was the cause of his kidney failure.<ref name="lawsuit">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/28/sports/pro-football-care-by-team-doctors-raises-conflict-issue.html|title=Pro Football; Care by Team Doctors Raises Conflict Issue|last=George|first=Thomas|date=July 28, 2002|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 19, 2012}}</ref> He knew as early as 1986 that there were issues with his kidney but finally realized the severity of it when he did not pass the Cardinals physical.<ref name="advil"/> He said that he took 15 to 20 Advils daily for three months to reduce the swelling in his ankle, before a doctor intervened and told him to stop.<ref name="advil"/> A former teammate said that Advil and other medications were easily obtainable in the Seahawks locker room in "large dispensers" without proper medical supervision.<ref name="advil"/> Easley's physicians said that they never told him to take the quantity of Advils that Easley said he took.<ref name="advil"/> His case made national headlines and formed discussion involving the safe use of [[Over-the-counter drug|over the counter medication]] like Advil.<ref name="advil"/> The lawsuit was settled out of court in 1990.<ref name="lawsuit"/>

Easley received a new kidney at the [[University of Washington Medical Center]] in Seattle, in June 1990.<ref name=eratr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fdRYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4441%2C6629740 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=staff and wire reports |title=Easley rests following transplant |date=June 9, 1990 |page=B2}}</ref><ref name="Newkidney">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/09/sports/sports-people-pro-football-new-kidney-for-easley.html|title=Sports People: Pro Football; New Kidney for Easley|last=Associated Press|date=June 9, 1990|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 19, 2012}}</ref>

==Later years==
In 1991, Easley bought into a car dealership (along with his partner Rick Johnson), Alderwood Oldsmobile & Cadillac in [[Lynnwood, Washington]], (it later moved to [[Shoreline, Washington]] in 1996), taking advantage of a [[General Motors]] program that made it easier for African-Americans and other minorities to own an auto dealership.<ref name="dealership">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-21936429.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318221134/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-21936429.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2016|title=Ex-Hawk Kenny Easley on Road to Success: The Oldsmobile-Cadillac|date=September 2, 1998|work=Portland Skanner|publisher=|access-date=May 27, 2012}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> The dealership became successful and Easley was named president of the African American Dealers Association.<ref name="dealership"/>

In 1999, Easley, along with Buffalo Bills defensive end [[Bruce Smith (defensive end)|Bruce Smith]], were named as the new owners of the [[Norfolk Nighthawks]] of the [[AF2]], a semi-professional [[arena football]] league branched out from the [[Arena Football League]].<ref name="AF2"/> The day after the city announced Easley and Smith as owners, a controversy arose with Mark Garcea and Page Johnson, the owners of the [[Hampton Roads Admirals]] minor league hockey team, and the city of [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. Garcea and Johnson stated that they participated in the original AF2 meetings and asked the city for exclusive rights to own the franchise, providing a $5,000 down payment.<ref name="controversyAFL">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68441479.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162459/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68441479.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|title=Indoor Football at Center of Dispute: Admirals Owners Say They Should Own New X-Treme League Team.|last=Minium|first=Harry|date=April 22, 1999|work=The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)|publisher=McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |access-date=September 25, 2012}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> Instead, the city allowed Easley and Smith to pay the league's $75,000 franchise fee.<ref name="controversyAFL"/> The AF2 started playing their first games in the summer of 2000. In his first season as owner, the Nighthawks averaged 6,500 fans at their home field per game, and sold 3,200 season tickets.<ref name="af2firstseason">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-66990645.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223842/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-66990645.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 14, 2014|title=Nighthawks' Owner Sees Bigger, Better Things in Second Season|last=Minium|first=Harry|date=November 12, 2000|work=[[The Virginian-Pilot]]|publisher=|access-date=May 27, 2012}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> The team made the AF2 playoffs, but lost money in their first season, which Easley blamed as "rookie mistakes" and startup costs.<ref name="af2firstseason"/> The team disbanded prior to the 2004 season.

===Reconciliation with the Seahawks===
After his retirement, Easley cut most of his ties with the Seahawks organization, citing the lawsuit, how his "dignity" was affected by the Stouffer trade and how no one from the organization offered condolences after his kidney transplant.<ref name="Seattlering">{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Seahawks-NFL-Beat-Easley-unloads-after-15-year-1098516.php|title=Seahawks/NFL Beat: Easley unloads after 15-year estrangement|last=Farnsworth|first=Clare|date=October 15, 2002|newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|access-date=August 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name="AF2">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-65215958.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125045400/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-65215958.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 25, 2013|title=Whatever Happened To ... Kenny Easley? Former All-Pro Safety Still Harbors Ill-Will Against Seahawks.|last=Farnsworth|first=Clare|date=September 9, 2000|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|publisher=|access-date=May 27, 2012}}{{Subscription required}}</ref> In 2002, he received a phone call from Gary Wright, the Seahawks publicity director, saying that [[Paul Allen]], the new owner, wanted to induct Easley into the [[Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor|Ring of Honor]], and that no other players would receive the honor again until he accepted. With the team under a different owner than that for whom Easley had played, Easley viewed the invitation as an opportunity to reconcile and reconnect with the Seahawks organization. He accepted the honor and became the seventh Seahawk to be inducted into the team Ring of Honor in 2002. For the remainder of his life, he enjoyed cordial relations with the organization.<ref>{{cite news |last=Condotta |first=Bob |title=Kenny Easley getting ready for the 'great honor' of becoming fourth Seahawk inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/kenny-easley-getting-ready-for-the-great-honor-of-becoming-fourth-seahawk-inducted-into-pro-football-hall-of-fame/ |newspaper=The Seattle Times |date=July 12, 2017 |access-date=August 5, 2017}}</ref>

Easley was named an honorary captain during [[Super Bowl XLIX]], flipping the coin while [[Vince Wilfork]] called the toss on behalf of the captains. The Seahawks officially retired Easley's number 45 in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seahawks.com/galleries/2017/10/01/2017-week-4-kenny-easley-jersey-number-retirement-ceremony|title=2017 Week 4: Kenny Easley Jersey Number Retirement Ceremony|work=[[Seattle Seahawks]]|date=October 1, 2017|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050625/http://www.seahawks.com/galleries/2017/10/01/2017-week-4-kenny-easley-jersey-number-retirement-ceremony|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Legacy==
In his seven-year NFL career, Easley recorded 32 interceptions for 538 yards and three touchdowns, while also returning 27 punts for 302 yards. In 2002, he was elected to the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor after several attempts by the Seahawks to nominate him, but he was previously not interested.<ref name="Seattlering"/><ref name="AF2"/> Easley was also named to the [[NFL 1980s All-Decade Team]].<ref name="AllDecade">{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/history/legends/1980s|title=NFL All-Decade Team 1980s|work=NFL.com|access-date=July 31, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named him to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2012.html |title=Hall of Very Good Class of 2012 | accessdate=November 29, 2021}}</ref>

In 2016, Easley was named the senior finalist for the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]'s 2017 class,<ref name="HOFNom">{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/seahawks-kenny-easley-named-hof-senior-finalist-0ap3000000685511|title=Seahawks' Kenny Easley named HOF senior finalist|website=[[NFL.com]]|access-date=September 14, 2016}}</ref> he was elected in February 2017,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seahawks.com/news/2017/02/04/seahawks-safety-kenny-easley-elected-pro-football-hall-fame|title=Seahawks Safety Kenny Easley Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame|work=[[Seattle Seahawks]]|date=February 4, 2017|access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref> and his bust was sculpted by [[Scott Myers]].

Easley's No. 5 [[UCLA Bruins football retired numbers|jersey was retired by UCLA]] in 1981, the year after his final season with the Bruins.<ref>{{cite news|title=UCLA Bruins Retire Seven Jerseys|date=September 3, 1981|newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel/185143831/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=November 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Spencer|last=Stueve|title=UCLA Football Encyclopedia|year=2018|publisher=Sports Publishing|page=<!--Page number not visible in Google's preview -->|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YzKCDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT383|isbn= 9781683582557|access-date=November 17, 2025|via=Google Books|quote=Kenny Easley's number 5 jersey was retired, not years down the line, but immediately. Coach Donahue knew the impression that Easley had made on the Bruins, and it was announced during the team banquet following Easley's senior season that the number 5 uniform at UCLA will never be worn again.}}</ref> He was elected to the [[UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame]] and the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1991.

==Personal life and death==
Easley and his wife, Gail, had three children: Kendrick, Gabrielle, and Giordanna.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Henderson |first=Devon |date=November 15, 2025 |title=Kenny Easley, Hall of Famer and Seahawks legend, dies at 66 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6810355/2025/11/15/kenny-easley-death-seahawks-obit/ |access-date=November 16, 2025 |work=[[The Athletic]] |publisher=[[The New York Times Company]] |url-access=subscription |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Condotta |first=Bob |date=November 15, 2025 |title=Kenny Easley, Seahawks Hall of Fame safety, dies at 66 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/kenny-easley-seahawks-hall-of-fame-safety-dies-at-66/ |access-date=November 16, 2025 |website=[[The Seattle Times]] |url-access=subscription |language=en-US}}</ref>

Easley died on November 14, 2025, at the age of 66.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=November 15, 2025 |title=Hall of Famer Kenny Easley dies at 66 |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/hall-of-famer-kenny-easley-dies-at-66 |access-date=November 15, 2025 |publisher=NBC Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Kenny Easley, Seahawks great and Hall of Famer, dies at 66|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46976941/kenny-easley-seahawks-great-hall-famer-dies-66|publisher=[[ESPN]]|last=Henderson|first=Brady|date=November 15, 2025|access-date=November 15, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{College Football HoF|1954}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=kenny-easly |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=E/EaslKe00 |rotoworld= }}
* {{IMDb name| 2886323}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Kenny Easley—awards and honors
| list1 =
{{1978 NCAA Division I College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1979 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1980 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1969-1994 All-America Team}}
{{1981 NFL Draft}}
{{SeahawksFirstPick}}
{{Seahawks1981DraftPicks}}
{{NFL DPOYs}}
{{NFL season interception leaders}}
{{NFL1980s}}
{{Seattle Seahawks}}
{{Seattle Seahawks 35th anniversary team navbox}}
{{Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor}}
{{Seattle Seahawks retired numbers}}
{{2017 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
}}

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[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:Chicago Bulls draft picks]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners]]
[[Category:NFL players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Chesapeake, Virginia]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Seattle Seahawks players]]
[[Category:UCLA Bruins football players]]
<!-- [[Category:UCLA Bruins men's basketball players]]: Junior varsity doesn't count towards earning a Varsity letter, so Easley doesn't belong in this category. -->