Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Allen Bailey died at 37, according to his brother and the team. His wife found him dead at their Florida home on Tuesday, and the family believes he died of natural causes.
Allen Bailey Dies At 37 In Florida
Bailey’s brother, Alford Bailey Jr., told TMZ that Bailey’s wife found him dead on Tuesday inside their Florida home. TMZ reported the news Wednesday morning. The Chiefs announced Bailey’s death later that day, according to TSN. No official cause of death has come out. The family believes Bailey died of natural causes, TSN reports, and no foul play is suspected. TMZ’s report includes no statement from police or a medical examiner, and it gives no time of day for the discovery.
Outlets spell his brother’s first name differently, Alford in TMZ and NBC Miami and Alfred in A to Z Sports. Bailey was born March 25, 1989, on Sapelo Island, Georgia, and attended McIntosh County Academy before he went to the University of Miami, according to TMZ.
Chiefs, Mahomes And Reid Pay Tribute
The Chiefs called Bailey an “excellent teammate, generous man, and kind soul,” NBC Miami reports. Head coach Andy Reid called him one of his favorite players and a great kid. Reid also said his heart goes out to Bailey’s family.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes played two seasons alongside Bailey, NBC Miami notes. Mahomes called him a great teammate and one of the team’s “glue guys,” per TSN. NBC Miami reports Mahomes recalled that Bailey was the first person he saw in the locker room during his rookie year. He said Bailey greeted him by saying the Big 12 was over for him.
Former Miami linebacker Colin McCarthy posted a tribute that called Bailey a fellow brother and sent prayers to his family, NBC Miami reports. A to Z Sports adds that former Chiefs players, including Jeff Allen, posted tributes, and that former Chiefs team reporter BJ Kissel called Bailey “1 of 1.” Teammates called him “the Hulk” for his power, A to Z Sports reports. The outlet lists him at 6-foot-3 and 288 pounds.
Allen Bailey’s Career At Miami And In The NFL
Bailey played four seasons at Miami. He earned first-team All-ACC honors as a junior in 2009 and second-team honors as a senior in 2010, according to NBC Miami. The Chiefs drafted him in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, 86th overall.
He spent eight seasons in Kansas City, from 2011 to 2018, TSN reports. He then signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2019. TMZ says he played 31 games for Atlanta over two seasons and left in 2021. TSN says he retired after the 2020 season. Accounts differ on how his time in Atlanta ended.
Across 10 seasons, Bailey appeared in 133 regular-season games and started 70, according to A to Z Sports and Baller Alert. He recorded 22 sacks and 248 tackles, TMZ and TSN agree. TSN lists four forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries, while A to Z Sports lists five recoveries. Baller Alert says his best pass-rushing year came in 2018, when he had six sacks in 16 games.
Yahoo Sports recalls a 2018 game against the Rams. Bailey recovered a fourth-quarter fumble by Jared Goff and returned it for a touchdown that gave Kansas City the lead. The Chiefs lost that game 54-51. At Miami, Baller Alert reports, he finished with 103 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 50 games.
What Remains Unknown
The reports leave several questions open. None of the pages I reviewed mentions funeral or memorial plans. No authority has released a cause of death. The reports do not name Bailey’s wife, and none includes a statement from her.
Bailey also built a record away from the field. He founded the Allen Bailey Foundation, which supports youth development through education, athletics and outreach in southeast Georgia, per Baller Alert. A to Z Sports says it also serves Florida. Baller Alert lists free football camps, school supply giveaways, holiday food drives and a Thanksgiving program that has given away hundreds of turkeys.
