Former Seattle Seahawks safety Kenny Easley is the senior finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017. It's an honor that's long overdue. He should have been inducted long before he had to take the senior route. He wasn't only one of the best defensive players of the 1980s. He was one of the best players.
Personally, I've always linked Kenny Easley and Ronnie Lott. Both spent their college days in Los Angeles. Easley at UCLA. Lott at USC. Both were top-10 picks in the 1981 NFL Draft. Easley was the fourth pick by the Seahawks. Lott was the eighth pick by the San Francisco 49ers. Both were tremendously talented defensive backs with the ability to play corner or safety. Lott did play both. I always felt that Easley was the better player but the margin was slight. That opinion might also have a little something to do with Lott's college choice. As a Cal it's only natural that I despise everything USC. Lott spoke highly of Easley in an interview with ESPN.com's Mike Sando in 2002.
Kenny could do what Jack Tatum could do, but he also could do what Mike Haynes could do. He was not only a great hitter and intimidator on the field, but he was a great athlete. Kenny, Lawrence Taylor and those guys changed the game of football on the defensive side because they were not just big hitters. Now, all of the sudden, you were seeing guys who were big hitters, but also as athletic as anyone on defense.
Easley would have been in Canton long ago if his NFL career hadn't been limited to only seven seasons (1981-87). He should have made it on the merit of those seven seasons but the shortness of his career has been a hindrance. A severely damaged kidney ended his career after the 1987 season. His seven seasons were filled with honors.
4x First-Team All-Pro (1982-85)
Second Team All-Pro (1987)
5x Pro Bowl (1982-85, 1987)
-he missed most of the 1986 season to knee and ankle injuries
AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981)
AFC Defensive Player of the Year (1983)
NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1984)
-not many safeties have taken home Defensive Player of the Year honors
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
Seahawks Ring of Honor
Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team
It shouldn't take much discussion on Super Bowl Eve to make Easley a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017.
Congratulations Kenny Easley on a much deserved honor.
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