UCLA Mourns Loss of All-Time Great Kenny Easley
November 15, 2025 | Football
Kenny Easley, one of the most decorated players in UCLA football history, passed away Friday at the age of 66.
Nicknamed "The Enforcer" and often associated with "F5" for his forceful style of play, Easley was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1991. He was welcomed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Easley's No. 5 was retired by UCLA following his illustrious career in Westwood and his No. 45 was retired by the NFL's Seattle Seahawks in 2017.
Easley was named one of the 150 greatest players in college football's 150-year history in 2020. A native of Chesapeake, Va., he starred at free safety for UCLA under head coach Terry Donahue from 1977-1980. Easley made an immediate impact for the Bruins, joining the starting lineup as a true freshman and ultimately becoming the first player in Pac-10 history to garner four first-team all-conference accolades. He was just the second player in UCLA football history to be voted a three-time consensus All-American.
Easley still holds the program record with 19 career interceptions, including 13 across his first two seasons. He ranks fifth on UCLA's all-time tackles list with 374, with his 93 stops in 1977 representing the most by a Bruin true freshman. Easley totaled 105 during the 1980 campaign, after which he finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting. He also returned punts during his time at UCLA. The 1978 and 1980 teams both finished with top-15 rankings, nationally.
Easley was drafted fourth overall by Seattle in 1981 and again made an immediate impact, logging 107 tackles and three interceptions and earning AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year recognition. He registered a league-leading and career-best 10 interceptions – two of which he returned for touchdowns – and was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 1984.
Despite playing just seven years professionally, Easley was tabbed to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1980s. He had four first-team All-Pro selections and made five Pro Bowls. In addition to having his number retired by the Seahawks, Easley was added to the team's Ring of Honor in 2002. He finished his professional career with 498 tackles, eight sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries and 32 interceptions.
Easley is survived by his wife Gail Easley, son Kendrick Easley and daughters Gabrielle Manhertz and Giordanna Easley. Plans for memorial services are pending at this current time.
Nicknamed "The Enforcer" and often associated with "F5" for his forceful style of play, Easley was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1991. He was welcomed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Easley's No. 5 was retired by UCLA following his illustrious career in Westwood and his No. 45 was retired by the NFL's Seattle Seahawks in 2017.
Easley was named one of the 150 greatest players in college football's 150-year history in 2020. A native of Chesapeake, Va., he starred at free safety for UCLA under head coach Terry Donahue from 1977-1980. Easley made an immediate impact for the Bruins, joining the starting lineup as a true freshman and ultimately becoming the first player in Pac-10 history to garner four first-team all-conference accolades. He was just the second player in UCLA football history to be voted a three-time consensus All-American.
Easley still holds the program record with 19 career interceptions, including 13 across his first two seasons. He ranks fifth on UCLA's all-time tackles list with 374, with his 93 stops in 1977 representing the most by a Bruin true freshman. Easley totaled 105 during the 1980 campaign, after which he finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting. He also returned punts during his time at UCLA. The 1978 and 1980 teams both finished with top-15 rankings, nationally.
Easley was drafted fourth overall by Seattle in 1981 and again made an immediate impact, logging 107 tackles and three interceptions and earning AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year recognition. He registered a league-leading and career-best 10 interceptions – two of which he returned for touchdowns – and was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 1984.
Despite playing just seven years professionally, Easley was tabbed to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1980s. He had four first-team All-Pro selections and made five Pro Bowls. In addition to having his number retired by the Seahawks, Easley was added to the team's Ring of Honor in 2002. He finished his professional career with 498 tackles, eight sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries and 32 interceptions.
Easley is survived by his wife Gail Easley, son Kendrick Easley and daughters Gabrielle Manhertz and Giordanna Easley. Plans for memorial services are pending at this current time.
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