Former NFL Player Allen Bailey Dies at 37 in Florida

Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey died at his Florida home on Tuesday at age 37. His family believes he passed from natural causes, prompting tributes from former coaches and teammates, including Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, for the 10-year NFL veteran and community foundation founder.

Allen Bailey was found dead by his wife at their Florida residence on Tuesday, according to his family. While an official cause of death had not been released by Wednesday afternoon, Bailey’s relatives told media outlets that they believe he died of natural causes.

Bailey Rises From Sapelo Island

Born on March 25, 1989, Bailey grew up in Hog Hammock, a historic Gullah Geechee community on Sapelo Island, Georgia. The area remains accessible from the mainland only by ferry and features unpaved roads without traffic lights.

As a teenager attending McIntosh County Academy in Darien, his daily routine involved a boat ride. When track or football practices ran late, he stayed overnight with a teammate because the final ferry left the island at 5:30 p.m.

As a junior, he recorded 138 tackles and three sacks, earning a spot on the preseason AJC Super 11 team in 2006 alongside future NFL stars like Eric Berry and Cameron Heyward. He later played defensive line for the Miami Hurricanes, lettering four times and earning two All-ACC honors.

NFL Career Spans Kansas City and Atlanta

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Bailey in the third round with the 86th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. Standing 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing roughly 288 pounds, his strength earned him the nickname The Incredible Hulk from teammates and coaches.

He spent the first eight seasons of his career in Kansas City. His standout campaign came in 2018, when he posted a career-high six sacks, 10 quarterback hits, and four fumble recoveries, including a scoop-and-score touchdown during a 54-51 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

In 2019, he signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons, later securing a one-year extension before his release in February 2021. Over 133 career regular-season games, he totaled 22 sacks and 248 combined tackles.

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes Remember Former Teammate

Chiefs coach Andy Reid addressed reporters on Wednesday, remembering the defensive end as one of his favorite players.

Our hearts go out to his family, and our prayers are with them. Way too young, obviously. He was one of my favorite players, a great kid. I’m just sorry to see that happened to him.

Andy Reid, Chiefs Head Coach, via ESPN

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes recalled his own arrival in Kansas City during the 2017 draft. Bailey was the very first player he encountered in the locker room, giving him an immediate impression of professional football’s physical standards.

I tell this story every year: He was the first person I saw when I stepped into the locker room after the draft. I see Allen Bailey and I’m like, ‘This isn’t the Big 12 anymore.’ It was surreal to see him.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Quarterback, via ESPN

Mahomes described Bailey as one of the team’s “glue guys” who made plays without seeking individual superstardom. Former teammates echoed those sentiments on social media: offensive lineman Jeff Allen shared a tribute calling him a brother, while Mitchell Schwartz described him as an exceptional person.

Foundation Serves Coastal Georgia

Through the Allen Bailey Foundation, formerly known as Allen Bailey Charities, Bailey supported youth athletes and families across McIntosh, Glynn, and Camden counties. The organization operated free football camps, scholarship programs, backpack giveaways, and an annual Thanksgiving turkey drive that distributed more than 300 turkeys to families in need.

More on Allen: Josh Hines-Allen Clashes With Staffer Over Travis Hunter's First INT Ball