Former Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey has died at the age of 37, according to multiple reports, and several of his former teammates quickly began sharing memories of a player they remembered just as fondly off the field as on it.
No cause of death was announced. Bailey’s brother, Alford Bailey Jr., told TMZ that Bailey’s wife found him dead inside their Florida home on Tuesday.
Bailey spent most of his NFL career in Kansas City, playing eight of his 10 seasons with the Chiefs after they picked him in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He stayed with the team through the 2018 season, starting 70 games and finishing with 22 sacks and 248 tackles.
His size and style made him a memorable presence in the locker room, and he picked up the nickname “Hulk.” Dee Ford described him this way in 2014: “It’s perfect,” Dee Ford told the Star’s Terez A.
Paylor in 2014. “ Looks like the Hulk.
Plays like the Hulk. He’s a complete player, man.
He’s powerful, fast. He’s just a freak.
You see him do certain stuff … there’s a select few guys in the league like that.”
Bailey also left his mark in one of the most memorable games of the 2018 season, scoring a touchdown in the Chiefs’ wild 54-51 loss to the Rams on “Monday Night Football.”
Before the NFL, Bailey grew up in Hog Hammock, Georgia on Sapelo Island, about a 20-minute ferry ride from the mainland. In a 2013 conversation with Star columnist Vahe Gregorian, he described the freedom of that upbringing: “We couldn’t go too far because you could get lost,” Bailey told Star columnist Vahe Gregorian in 2013 about growing up on the island.
“That’s all we did, really: walk around. It was adventurous.
You didn’t have the dangers of a city life, cars. You could play in the streets all day.”
He didn’t start organized football until seventh grade, but he became a standout at McIntosh County Academy in Georgia, then blossomed at the University of Miami before entering the NFL.
After his Kansas City run, Bailey played two seasons with the Falcons and later focused on helping children through the Allen Bailey Foundation. The foundation said its work included “football camps, community events, and digital resources tailored to foster talent and promote academic readiness.
With a decade of NFL experience, Allen brings a unique perspective to mentor and guide participants. ABF stands out for its commitment to holistic growth, providing valuable resources both in on-site and remote formats.”
Tributes came from former teammates and friends across the Chiefs and beyond. Colin McCarthy, who played with Bailey at Miami, wrote on social media: “Lost a fellow brother today… prayers to AB family! Love you Big Cuzzo!”
Former Chiefs offensive lineman Jeff Allen wrote on X: “Lost a teammate, a friend, a brother. God needed another angel.
Rest easy, my brother. 🕊️🙏🏽”
Husain Abdullah posted: ”To God we belong and to Him is our return. Great teammate.
Even greater person. Sad news on Allen Bailey.
Love you brotha”
Mitch Morse wrote: “Allen Bailey was a brilliant spirit. He was kind, he was generous, he was good.”
Mike DeVito said: “Like (late Jets center Nick) Mangold almost exactly one year ago, this is really hard to fathom. AB was an amazing human being.
Truly amazing. Unreal.
Love you, 97.”
Matt Cassel added: “So sad to hear about Allen Bailey. He was a great teammate and person. Prayers go out to his loved ones.”
And Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones shared a post on Instagram stories and wrote: “Rip my brotha! This one hurt AB”
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