Kenny Easley officially became Hall of Famer No. 306 on Saturday as the former UCLA safety received his bronze bust in Canton, Ohio.
His seven-year NFL career ended suddenly in 1987 after a kidney ailment and 30 years later, Easley was finally elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
“The Hall of Fame was dropped on the shoulders of Kenny Easley like a pair of shoulder pads,” he said during his speech. “Some folks said, ‘I deserved to be in the Hall earlier.’ I don’t believe that. Others said, ‘Maybe he didn’t play long enough.’ I don’t believe that either.’’
Easley is the sixth former Bruin to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining Troy Aikman, Tom Fears, Jimmy Johnson, Jonathan Ogden and Bob Waterfield.
UCLA head coach Jim Mora, who has known Easley since he was young, congratulated Easley in a video message:
A special message from @Jim_MoraUCLA to @EasleyForce5 on the day of his Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement.#PFHOF17 | #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/qWmV5Fvk7g
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) August 5, 2017