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Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Kenny Easley died Friday evening, his family told the Hall. Easley, who starred for the Seattle Seahawks from 1981 to 1987 but battled health issues for years, was 66 years old.

Seattle drafted Easley out of UCLA with the No. 4 overall pick in 1981, the Seahawks' sixth year in the NFL. The 6-foot-3 defensive back went on to earn five All-Pro honors in his seven-season career.

While a kidney ailment forced him to retire before he reached his 30s, his impact on the league, and especially the Seahawks, was felt long before he was inducted into the Hall in 2017. 

Earning the nickname of "The Enforcer," Easley brought an intensity at the strong safety position in Seattle that foreshadowed the days of the "Legion of Boom."

"Kenny Easley would have been a dominant safety in any era," a statement from Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter read Saturday.

"When he was enshrined in 2017, he took his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and embraced his football immortality. Kenny possessed excellent ball skills, but make no mistake: His biggest strengths were his fearlessness and intensity. If you had the ball as an opposing offensive player, he was going to hit you hard — and you were going to feel it for a while.

"The Hall of Fame staff sends its condolences to Kenny's wife, Gail, and the entire Easley family."

Easley became the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1984 while leading the league with 10 interceptions.

He started 87 of the 89 games he played in and finished with 32 picks — including a trio of pick 6s and 538 total interception return yards — and nine forced fumbles.

The Seahawks welcomed Easley into their Ring of Honor in 2002. He was the fourth player in franchise history to have his jersey retired, as his No. 45 is synonymous with his name in Seattle lore. 

Different team. Different time. But it’s back to the scene of the crime for the Chargers, who three years ago succumbed to a 27-point comeback in a playoff loss at Jacksonville.

This season’s Jaguars got off to a 4-1 start but have lost three of their last four to slip back into the pack. They don’t have star rookie Travis Hunter, who underwent surgery this week and will miss the remainder of the season.

The team plays hard for first-year coach Liam Coen, who said he wants quarterback Trevor Lawrence to “cut it loose and let it rip” when he sees opportunities down the field.

Read more:Rookies R.J. Mickens and Nikko Reed proving to be game-changers for Chargers

After opening the season 3-0, the Chargers lost three of four, but are now riding another three-game winning streak. Justin Herbert has been outstanding at times, despite being the most-hit quarterback in the NFL.

The Chargers defense is coming off a gem of a performance in a win over Pittsburgh. Aaron Rodgers looked every bit of 41 years old, and at one point the Steelers were 0 for 9 on third down.

How the Chargers can win: As usual, protect Herbert behind a patchwork offensive line. Jacksonville has struggled to pressure quarterbacks, especially with Travon Walker at less than full strength and a beat-up secondary. Get the ball to Ladd McConkey and Oronde Gadsden II, with some Keenan Allen mixed in. Don’t allow the Jaguars to control the game with the run.

How the Jaguars can win: Jacksonville can look like a playoff team when it wins at the line of scrimmage but tends to collapse when it gets pushed around. The Jaguars need to establish the run early and grind out some long drives because they do not get a lot of explosive plays. Get to Herbert quickly before he has a chance to attack that weakened secondary. Contain Herbert, too, because he can burn you with his feet.

Key injuries

Chargers: OT Bobby Hart (knee, questionable); WR Quentin Johnston (shin, questionable); FB/DL Scott Matlock (chest, questionable); DB Elijah Molden (knee, questionable); DB Tarheeb Still (knee, questionable).

Jaguars: WR/CB Travis Hunter (knee, out); TE Hunter Long (hip, out); TE Brenton Strange (hip, out); CB Jourdan Lewis (neck, out); WR Brian Thomas (ankle, questionable).

How to watch and listen to Chargers vs. Jaguars

The Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars will play at 10 a.m. PST Sunday at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The game will be shown in Southern California on CBS and Paramount+. It will be available nationally via a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV. In Southern California, fans can listen to the game on 640 AM and 105.5 FM (Español).

Betting odds and lines for Chargers vs. Jaguars

Who will win Chargers vs. Jaguars?

Sam Farmer’s pick: Both these teams fluctuate between looking very good and very vulnerable. The Chargers have found ways to win despite a slew of injuries along the offensive line. Watch for the Jaguars to bounce back after an embarrassing loss to Houston in which they were outscored 18-0 in the fourth quarter. Jaguars 27, Chargers 23

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.