Pro Football Hall of Fame names ex-Seahawks player a finalist for 2017
The Pro Football Hall of Fame officially has its first finalist for the class of 2017. Former Seahawks safety Kenny Easley was selected as the senior finalist after a meeting by the Hall of Fame Seniors Committee on Monday.
Although the committee generally selects two senior finalists, its members only selected one this year because the Hall will be nominating two contributor finalists in 2017.
For the 2016 class, there were two senior finalists (Kenny Stabler, Dick Stanfel) and only one contributor finalist (Eddie DeBartolo), and all three men ended up getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, which bodes well for Easley.
However, the former Seahawks defensive back is going to have to wait almost six months before he finds out if he’s in or not. The 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class won’t be announced until Feb. 4, 2017, the day before Super Bowl LI.
To be inducted, a finalist needs to receive at least 80 percent support from the 46-person selection committee., which will meet on the afternoon of Feb. 4, just hours before the official announcement is made during a television special on Fox.
Easley will be one of 18 finalists for the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame. The former Seahawks safety will be joined by two contributor finalists and 15 modern-era finalists. Under bylaws of the HOF, a minimum of four people have to be inducted each year, with a maximum of eight.
The 15 modern-era finalists will be announced in January, while the two contributor finalists will be announced on Tuesday.
Easley’s nomination comes 29 years after his career ended in 1987. After being selected with the fourth overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft, Easley went on to play seven seasons with the Seahawks. In 1984, Easley was named the Defensive Player of the Year after a season where he led the NFL in interceptions (10) and pick-six’s (2).
The five-time Pro Bowler was also named first-team All-Pro in four straight seasons (1982-85).
To be eligible to be nominated by the Seniors Committee, a player has to have been out of the NFL for at least 25 years. The good news for Easley is that every senior member who’s been nominated since 2009 has eventually earned induction into the Hall.
Anyway, be sure to check out our predictions on who’s going to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
