As the Kansas City Chiefs get ready to face the Seattle Seahawks on “Sunday Night Football,” they’re also mourning the loss of one of Chiefs Kingdom’s most underrated defenders of the Andy Reid era.

News broke late Tuesday evening that former Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey had died at 37 years old. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid opened his press conference Wednesday with a statement on Bailey, sending prayers and well wishes to his family.

“On the passing of Allen Bailey, our hearts go out to his family,” Coach Reid began. “Prayers are with them, and way too young, obviously. One of my favorite players. Great, great kid, and just sorry to see that happened to him.”

Andy Reid calls Allen Bailey one of his favorite players

Coach Reid declared on Wednesday that Bailey was one of his favorite players. That’s notable praise coming from Reid. He has always been an offensive coach first, and it takes a special type of defender, and a special type of person, to earn that kind of endorsement from him.

Reid coached Bailey from 2013 through 2018. Bailey’s play on the field wasn’t the only thing that caught the head coach’s attention, however. Reid pointed to the goodness in Bailey’s heart and the quirks the two shared.

To illustrate that bond, Reid told a story about a possum. It captured the kind of relationship they had during their six seasons together in Kansas City.

“Just a good guy,” Reid said of Bailey. “Yeah, good guy. I drive in every morning on Coal Miner Road there, and I’ll see a possum, and he was a big hunter. And I say, ‘I saw a possum out there.’ He goes, ‘Don’t eat those possums; they eat garbage. You know, gotta get the ones that eat the chestnuts.’ So I mean, you know, he was just, he was that kind of guy. You know, he was an outdoorsman, and then he was dirty tough, and talk about giving an honest down. He gave you an honest down every snap.”

Reid also offered some perspective on losing a former player, especially one taken at such a young age

“Yeah, it’s terrible,” Reid said. “It’s terrible, especially with all the good he does and he’s got a family and that whole thing. That’s a sad deal. I know his father passed away young too, and it’s just, you know, it’s life. But it makes you sick when it happens that young.”

Patrick Mahomes shares the story he tells every year

Bailey still has several former teammates on the Chiefs’ roster. That group includes Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who played alongside him in Kansas City for two seasons. Mahomes recalled a moment from his 2017 rookie season. He says he retells it in the quarterback room every year, especially to young players entering the NFL.

“Yeah, I was just talking about it with some of the QBs, and I tell this story kind of like every year with QBs,” Mahomes said. “He was the first person I saw when I stepped into the locker room (in Kansas City). I think it was after the draft, like they were in OTAs, and I stepped into the locker room and saw Allen Bailey, and I’m like, ‘This isn’t the Big 12 anymore.’ Like it was surreal to see him, and so I tell that story every single year.”

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 288 pounds, Bailey was quite the intimidating presence. Mahomes made it clear he was happy Bailey was on his team, rather than chasing him, except when the offense and defense practiced against each other.

Former teammates rally around each other as they mourn Bailey’s passing

Mahomes described Bailey as a great teammate. He also said Bailey’s former teammates stay in constant communication. They’re talking about how to support each other and Bailey’s family through this difficult time.

“So obviously, it’s terrible to hear the news that we heard,” Mahomes said. “I mean, a great teammate. 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. And it was terrible to hear that news. 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.”

Those conversations will continue as Kansas City turns its attention to Seattle. The Chiefs will take the field Sunday night with a former teammate on their minds, and with a head coach and quarterback who made sure they didn’t overlook Bailey’s play and character this week.