Former Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey, who spent eight of his 10 NFL seasons in Kansas City, has died at 37, according to multiple reports.
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.
Tributes from former teammates started pouring in soon after the news broke. Colin McCarthy, who played with Bailey at the University of Miami, posted: “Lost a fellow brother today… prayers to AB family!
Love you Big Cuzzo!” Former Chiefs offensive lineman Jeff Allen also honored him, writing: “Lost a teammate, a friend, a brother.
God needed another angel. Rest easy, my brother.
🕊️🙏🏽”
Bailey’s football path ran from a small Georgia island to the NFL. He grew up in Hog Hammock on Sapelo Island, about a 20-minute ferry ride from the mainland.
In 2013, he told Star columnist Vahe Gregorian, “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 and drew the attention of the University of Miami, where he starred for the Hurricanes.
Kansas City made him a third-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and Bailey stayed with the Chiefs through the 2018 season. Over that stretch, he made 70 starts, posted 22 sacks and finished with 248 tackles. Because of his size and style, teammates nicknamed him “Hulk.”
“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 wildest games of that era, scoring a touchdown in the Chiefs’ 54-51 loss to the Rams in the 2018 “Monday Night Football” classic.
After leaving Kansas City, he played two seasons with the Falcons before turning his focus to helping children through the Allen Bailey Foundation. The foundation said its outreach 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.”
More former Chiefs continued to share their memories after his death was confirmed. Husain Abdullah wrote on X: ”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 said: “Allen Bailey was a brilliant spirit. He was kind, he was generous, he was good.”
Mike DeVito added: “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 wrote: “So sad to hear about Allen Bailey. He was a great teammate and person. Prayers go out to his loved ones.”
Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones also posted on Instagram stories and wrote: “Rip my brotha! This one hurt AB”
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