How a Fan's Letter to Kenny Easley Led to a Hall of Fame Induction | NFL Films Presents

Watch how a fan's letter ended up sparking a chain of events that ended up with former NFL safety Kenny Easley getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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[@WackJallis]

him mentioning bob in the speech was something special

[@ManuelPestana]

@@hawks8830 fake ahhaha x)

[@chriscringle3950]

Wow , what a great story - regardless of your favorite team you can't help but love this

[@damn.1672]

I got goosebumps when he starting talking about Bob in the HOF speech.

[@whatsthedeal9720]

I am a diehard Raiders fan and for me to give mad props to a Seahawk (who was in the AFC West back then) shows how much game Easley had. He was game changer!

[@lambdalambdalambdaa]

Nobody cares you're a Raiders fan. It doesn't make your thoughts or comments more important or special

[@jordancarpenter676]

The fact he was in the crowd when Kenny got inducted. I don’t think even then he thought he might meet him. It was like his dream was fulfilled anyway. This is great.

[@mikedaflexta]

Bob is a great person. People like him actually make a difference in this world.

[@thomashiggins232]

He runs my flag football league in Virginia and Kenny is such a great dude

[@seanskove2892]

If they didnt meet at the end I was seriously going to write a letter

[@brettfavreify]

Bob, you did a great, great thing.

[@averagejudge500]

Im dead🤣

[@frederikbrandt424]

This truly is a beautiful story, it hit me hard ngl

[@pride893]

Such a great story, I hope everyone has a great Christmas this year!

[@amannazeeri6429]

pride893 can u sub to me

[@SHAMBALLIN78]

pride893 Merry Christmas to you also

[@jesswhite8845]

First off God bless Bob Kaupang. Thank you for helping Kenny be recognized for who he was and what he did for his team. Kenny Easley has always been my favorite player in the NFL or sports period. You can't top Ken in my book. I sure loved Steve Largent but Ken was the MAN! He was legendary and that isn't an exaggeration one bit. He was a the ultimate safety! If there was one man left to stop the opposing teams play it was him. He would appear like a missile and he would hit the opposing player like a f#cking car crash. Causing fumbles, knocking out the opposing player and or himself! He hit people full speed with reckless abandonment for his own safety, knocked himself out, but more often the other player out. Gave and received many concussions! I argued his greatness with many an ignorant NFL fan. Usually a 49er fan. They would say Ronnie Lott was better. I was delighted later to find a Ronnie Lott interview where he proclaimed Ken Easley the GOAT! Also lets address the pink elephant in the room. Lets be clear Motrin and or Ibuprofen prescribed by the team doctors killed his kidneys! Thats what ended his career! I hold a grudge against the Nordstrom family who owned the Seahawks at the time. He was discarded like trash after he gave himself to the Seahawks. It was F#cking B#ullshit how he was treated and forgotten. Thank goodness Bob Kaupang brought redemption to my Favorite player of any sport.

[@jasonblackwood4627]

Thank You Bob for doing that for #45 Kenny Easley and for sure 1 of the Best in the league for making him #308 in the Football Hall of Fame…. I’m a 12 for LIFE and every time I’m at a Home Game I Love seeing his name in the 12th MAN Ring Of Honor…. Again Thank You Sir and God Bless… SEA!!!HAWKS!!!

[@alexandersupertramp7353]

As a 4 year old, Seahawks fan at the time they came into the league. I can tell you, that NO MATTER WIN, NO MATTER LOSE, this is the greatest period of football to have , ever been put together 1976-1985, was something special!!! Thank you, Kenny Easley! For ALL that you did, for not only a game that you loved! But for the ALL the sports fans, who did as well. 45FOREVERFOREVER45

[@alexg7885]

Very moving story. Kenny like so many others got overlooked. Glad someone was able to get him the recognition he deserved.

[@bconni2]

the two best safeties in the 1980's both came out of the L.A schools. Ronnie Lott ( USC ), Kenny Easley ( UCLA )

[@robertmarbella7715]

Good job Bob, Kenny Easley was awesome and one of the most if not the most underrated safety of All Time. If he would have played a more prolific team during his time his quest for the Hall of Fame would have never a question.

[@romanmolina7555]

BEST teacher EVER..... to live.

[@carlosm527]

Kenny Easley I know something that you'll ever know - KE you'll never know what it was like to watch you and root for you every weekend. You my brother will always be my favorite football player. Thank you Steelers Fan

[@whatsthedeal9720]

He looked meek in his glasses but he was a beast when he put the helmet on. This is coming from a Raiders fan. It would be ridiculous not to give props to stud!

[@Alex-wn5pd]

He was Earl and Kam in one body

[@mothafraker]

Kinda like Ronnie Lott. was Troy Polamalu and Brian Dawkins

[@DevotedDisciple-x]

2:35 "Picked off by Seattle at the 45!" And he was number 45 😀

[@flamingobandit8065]

this is absolutely amazing. got to meet his hero. doesn't get much better than that.

[@robdobson5056]

Bob, what you did was amazing!

[@144wychwood]

What an awesome story. Growing up in Montreal I became HUGE Seahawks fan in late 70s and into the 80s. Recall when they drafted Easley in 81. He was first of those big bruising safeties from 1980s along with Ronnie Lott, David Fulcher and Steve Atwater. Athletic, versatile, relentless. I was saddened when I heard he was traded to Cardinals and even more sad that he had to retire due to kidney problems. Even with his brief career I always thought he deserved to be in Hall of Fame. So glad powers that be finally put him in there.

[@nickbucci2766]

Great story! Kenny Easley is one of my favorite players of all time! And I’m a Chiefs fan lol

[@calen27]

😭 that was a lovely story

[@CollinTelesz]

It kind of shows the ignorance of the people who run the Hall of Fame, that a highschool teacher has to remind them of the greatness of this Hall of Fame caliber player, just so that he can get recognized as a candidate. It does not really surprise me when you think of all the other deserving snubs that get left out for less deserving candidates; T.O. just the latest example. The NFL organization as a whole is poorly run, and it's Hall of Fame is an extension of that.

[@vincentlospinuso7232]

It's not that they are ignorant towards him, it's just that there are so many great candidates

[@CollinTelesz]

The man was a multiple time defensive player of the year, the only defensive member of the 80's all-decade team not in the HOF. He was regarded by other greats like Lott and LT as one of the greatest safeties and athletes they had ever seen, and his stats are incredible, but they overlooked him because they were too many other great candidates? You don't completely throw aside a player like that unless you forgot about him.

[@madcapper6]

I think to some degree it might be ignorance. Easley won't go down as the greatest SS in NFL history because he didn't have the longevity. But from around 1983-86, he arguably reached a level that no other safety ever has. He was like a bigger, faster, harder hitting version of Ronnie Lott (who is in fact regarded as possibly the greatest safety/DB in NFL history). And Lott would be the first to tell you. He once said back in their early years, "I am an honorary member of the Kenny Easley fan club." His induction was long overdue.

[@latoya08miller]

Collin Telesz ken riley of the bengals should be in the hof too.

[@70elcamino.]

Collin Telesz. These sports writer whom are the ones who choose most couldn't tell anyone the history of football past 1996 and the other 1/2 2006 all these writers are busy looking for that moment when they can tear down a player. How about jerry kramer Great Guard but also his books did alot for pro football

[@ronyoshida9283]

Thank You Bob, as a Bruin Alumnus, what a wonderful story!

[@mmt2575]

One of the most heartwarming stories, made my day

[@jaydee5447]

Someone on here wrote Kenny was earl and Kam in one body. I never thought of it that way but that is the perfect comparison. He was a bad man.

[@natsukow1322]

after all these years, this video still holds true. you just need one person to believe in you weather you know them or not.

[@Sldumas1983]

This is freaking awesome 👏 he was a beast but time forgot , time had to remember the Enforcer and it did

[@mothafraker]

I will say this as a lifelong 49ers who thinks Ronnie Lott is the greatest safety of all time. Kenny Easley is a very close 2nd. I loved watching Kenny Easley play. And I am thrilled that Kenny made it to Canton, Ohio!!

[@daviddring9341]

Terrific player and a terrific guy.

[@DOLPHINATOR9778]

Great Story. Great video. Thank you.

[@1mil509]

I live an hour and 45 minutes away from Redwood Falls. Super cool

[@canton7180]

I will always remember watching him play when I was a kid, he was a one man game changer literally, just like LT, I always wondered why he wasn't in the hall of fame

[@matthewpettit5313]

I love watching old videos and seeing a young mama blue!!

[@gregj831]

That was a seriously cool story. Thanks!

[@ManuelPestana]

Great story! Thank you bob

[@MrMuchoDinero]

Mr. Kaupang was my 10th grade social studies teacher. I sat in the back of the room he's interviewed in. We all knew he loved the Seahawks - kind of different in the middle of Vikings country.

[@richoliver8508]

Kenny & Bam Bam were hard hitting SOB's....Marquise & Ugo.....make us proud!!

[@desertfox4273]

What an awesome guy , I almost 😪

[@TheDarthSoldier]

I got a football signed by Kenny Easley when I was 6 years old. I still have it.

[@wakawaka1976]

You guys did it again

[@thagigolo]

Awesome story.

[@cameronhunt5492]

Now someone needs to do this for Sean Taylor. Only played for 2-3 seasons but God he was one of the best.

[@tacokin6249]

Cameron Hunt lol no

[@ForzaNapolI1875]

yes sean was a warrior man rip

[@RASTAGOOB]

@@tacokin6249 stop

[@tropicmix8765]

@@RASTAGOOB so by your logic, if Baker Mayfield retired rn hed be a hall of Famer. "Stop" I guess there arent any requirements for the hall now lmao

[@therooster2526]

Kenny deserved it. He and Largent were the backbone's of the Seahawk's and the NFL at that time.

[@9034833838]

Wholesome

[@ltrain2165]

Touching story

[@thagreatfrank3071]

Who could possibly dislike this story?? Sometimes you’ve got to wonder what’s wrong with some peoples heads!?

[@DD-ix3bm]

Thanks Bob Kopang! Go Hawks!

[@buffv7]

Beautiful story. This guy was a legend on defense. Glad to see he finally got into the Hall of Fame!❤

[@bluewolfe6048]

Awesome story

[@koimatai4600]

He could hit like Kam cover like Earl 👀

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

As a Raiders fan I was very happy to see Easley inducted, despite a relatively short career. He was impossibly great during his peak. Maybe the Hall can see Lester Hayes in the same light one day?

[@Alexchamplooo]

The original ed reed

[@jcdova29]

It shouldn’t taken a school teacher to remind the NFL of Easley’s hall of fame career. For some reason the NFL forgets about the players that help make it lots of money.

[@SailorsGrave73]

Great story.

[@Yikes3tp]

Will always be one of my favorite Hawks, loved watching him play all those years ago

[@jackvanderpool3417]

To this day, The greatest Seahawk!

[@robertnesbitt3366]

I got a signed pic. Kenny Easley. 🙏❤ thank you

[@seany2345]

GOLD!!!

[@josephyang4997]

So many onions!

[@bg147]

He was a sledge hammer on the field.

[@nicholasnewton6775]

Thank you Bob kapaung

[@bobcougar77]

Thanks Bob! Kenny Easley is a football God. His omission from the Hall of Fame was a wrong that needed righting.

[@johnsmith-mk3zq]

The original legion of boom

[@themako990mako9]

What about Dave brown rip

[@erictoniaschwab1009]

Niners Nation needs to do this for Roger Craig.

[@Toni.F64]

Awesome story. #GOHAWKS

[@glennjoshua9950]

Work Hard. Do Your Best. Stick Together, and Walk With Honor, In Both Victory and Defeat. And THAT'S why we love sports. Not because of the beer commercials, the glitz, and the so-called glorifying of overpaid athletes. Sports binds us with all of the things that make us WANT to embrace a complete stranger, as much as we embrace friends and family. It's the greatest religion I know.

[@groovygator1]

Was that teacher actually the kid in the movie Free Willy? Cuz everyone knows the kid in the movie was the ONLY Seahawks fan at that time of the franchise history ;)

[@lambdalambdalambdaa]

He wanted to cry so bad when Kenny Easley named him in his speech

[@TheSaltBoiCometh]

1:55 hell that roughing the passer in todays nfl

[@PinkStarburst777]

2:50 lmao

[@brumoment7660]

Pink Starburst I know was I the only one that noticed that

[@brumoment7660]

At least I thought I was

[@leoray1234]

Name any other who can cover and hit with ferocity like #45.

[@ThankGodImBlack370]

Now to get Ed Jones in

[@Scream77541]

What did he say at 2:50?

[@LUFC-sw7er]

He said on a plane.

[@kevingunn3351]

If he got in ao should Sterling Sharpe

[@rcreed77]

I totally agree.....

[@ForzaNapolI1875]

original bambam

[@Arbitrator76]

From Oscar Smith High School to the Hall of Fame

[@jeremythompson9122]

What a great player Kenny Easley was. Him and Steve Largent were the greatest Seahawks ever until Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, and the Legion of Boom came along

[@bluegregory6239]

Easley and Largent were better than those guys.

[@fahada1921]

Wow

[@benisthebest4115]

dw TO I'm writing your letter now mate

[@ErlingEra]

GO HAWKS BABY!!!!

[@grinddaily2582]

Go hawks

[@medaily7054]

to think he was at UCLA and Lott was at USC.

[@Blizzie85]

How is there 6 "dislikes" on this video? SMH

[@AmericaFirstRifleman]

Football is family I love this film thanks NFL films! #Billicheat #fuckdapatriots #sad #GoCowboys

[@waffarchy6098]

Am I the only one here

[@waffarchy6098]

I like tacos

[@tombradyshadycheatsquadspy5590]

The cowgirls suck and that’s a fact. Kenny is better than any cowgirl ever and that’s another major fact

[@arminius.]

Tom Brady Shady #WOAT#MaddenCursed#OldFART

[@fastlane1205]

No offense but he looks like the black Charles Manson

[@DavidRead91]

dude goes out of his way to help you get in the hall and you can't give him a phone call?

[@robertkaupang4676]

He gave me more than a phone call. Trust me.

[@polecatjoe7022]

@@robertkaupang4676 I appreciate what you did for Kenny. He was my favorite Seahawk in the early '80s, too.

[@tombradyshadycheatsquadspy5590]

The cowgirls are a joke

[@jeremythompson9122]

Brady is a fraud too. The Hulk Hogan of the NFL

[@waffarchy6098]

First

[@TheMrAdamStoy]

Super dope story. But he doesn’t have the credentials to be in the HoF. Less than 90 career games and only 30 picks in total? That’s HoF stats? Unfortunately not.

[@rcreed77]

It's not always stats though, your impact on the game has to be considered too......

[@djbryanladd]

Fantastic story