Former NFL defensive end Allen Bailey, who spent a decade competing at the professional level, has died at the age of 37.
Bailey’s brother, Alford Bailey Jr., told TMZ that Bailey’s wife discovered him deceased at their Florida home on Oct. 20. An official cause of death was not announced, but his family believes he died of natural causes.
Born on March 25, 1989, Bailey grew up on Sapelo Island, Georgia, and attended McIntosh County Academy in Darien. His football career began at the collegiate level where he played at the University of Miami.
With the Hurricanes, Bailey developed into a formidable defensive lineman, earning first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition in 2009. His performance helped establish him as a promising prospect for the professional ranks.
He was selected as the 86th overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He went on to spend the first eight seasons of his professional career in Kansas City, becoming a regular presence along the team’s defensive front.
“Allen Bailey was an excellent teammate, generous man, and kind soul,” the Chiefs wrote in a statement on social media. “We’re deeply saddened to hear of his passing, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
During his final season with the Chiefs in 2018, he recorded a career-best six sacks and scored a touchdown after recovering a fumble during a high-scoring game against the Los Angeles Rams.
During a press conference, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid paid tribute to Bailey, offering condolences to his family and remembering the former defensive end as one of his favorite players and a “great kid,” adding that his passing at such a young age was heartbreaking.
He joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2019, continuing his NFL career for two additional seasons before being released from the sport in 2021. Across 133 regular-season appearances, Bailey accumulated 248 combined tackles and 22 sacks.
News of Bailey’s death also prompted tributes from former teammates and NFL stars alike. Colin McCarthy, who played alongside Bailey at Miami, shared a message of grief and support for his family on social media.
“Lost a fellow brother today … prayers to AB family! Love you Big Cuzzo!” McCarthy wrote on X.
Former Chiefs teammate Jeff Allen also remembered Bailey in a public tribute, expressing that he “lost a teammate, a friend, a brother.”
“God needed another angel,” Allen captioned a carousel of photos of Bailey on X. “Rest easy, my brother.”
“He was the first person I saw when I stepped into the locker room [in Kansas City],” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters on Wednesday. “So obviously, it’s terrible to hear the news that we heard.”
“A great teammate,” he continued. “I think you see him, and he’s one of those glue guys on the team. You know, like he makes plays, but he’s not necessarily the superstar, but the guy that kind of makes everything go. … We’re praying for him and for his family, and know that all his teammates, we’ve talked, and we know that we’re going to do whatever we can to support those guys.”
