Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Allen Bailey dies at 37 years old
The Kansas City Chiefs selected DL Allen Bailey in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. The former Miami Hurricanes standout spent eight seasons in Kansas City before finishing his career with the Atlanta Falcons.
Former Kansas City Chiefs draft pick Allen Bailey has died. The former Chiefs defensive lineman was 37. Bailey was born March 25, 1989, in Sapelo Island, Georgia. He attended McIntosh County Academy before attending the University of Miami.
The news first broke on social media when Bailey’s former Miami Hurricanes teammate Colin McCarthy posted on X:
“Lost a fellow brother today… prayers to AB family. Love you big, Cuzzo.”
Bailey’s brother, Alfred Bailey Jr., confirmed to TMZ that Bailey’s wife found him deceased on Tuesday inside their Florida home. The family believes he died of natural causes. Several of Bailey’s former teammates on the Chiefs have since taken to social media to express their sorrow over his passing.
Allen Bailey’s NFL career with the Chiefs and Falcons
Kansas City selected Bailey in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft with the 86th overall pick. He arrived from Miami as a powerful interior presence and stayed for a long time. Bailey played for the Chiefs from 2011-18, becoming one of the steadier pieces on the defensive line through multiple eras of Kansas City football. After eight seasons with the Chiefs, Bailey signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He played for Atlanta from 2019-20 before his NFL career ended.
Here’s a look at Bailey’s career numbers across his time with Kansas City and Atlanta:
- Games played: 133
- Career starts: 70
- Total tackles: 248
- Sacks: 22 5.
- Forced fumbles: four
- Fumble recoveries: five, including one returned for a touchdown
- Passes defended: six
Those numbers reflect a player who carved out a lengthy and productive career. Lasting nine-plus seasons in the NFL is no small feat for a third-round pick, and Bailey earned his playing time year after year.
Why teammates called Allen Bailey ‘The Hulk’
Bailey’s strength was the defining trait of his game. Teammates affectionately nicknamed him “the Hulk” for the power he displayed on the field. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 288 pounds, Bailey had a knack for barreling through opposing offensive linemen. He often knocked them straight to the ground, making him a physical tone-setter on the interior. That raw power made him a valued member of the defensive line rotation in Kansas City for nearly a decade.
Bailey’s on-field and off-field persona couldn’t be more different. Former Chiefs team reporter BJ Kissel recalled Bailey as “1 of 1 and one of the nicest players I was ever around.” The outpouring of support from his former teammates in Miami and with the Chiefs speaks to his off-field impact. He founded the Allen Bailey Foundation, a nonprofit organization that uplifts high school student-athletes and families in Southeast Coastal Georgia and Florida.
Our thoughts are with Bailey’s wife, his family, and everyone who knew him during this difficult time.
