The longtime Kansas City Chiefs lineman was pronounced dead at his Florida home as authorities opened a death investigation.
GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — Former Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons defensive end Allen Bailey, a 10-year NFL veteran who became a steady presence on Kansas City’s defensive front, died Tuesday at his Florida home. He was 37.
Deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office were sent to Bailey’s home after a caller reported a person in cardiac arrest, according to a police report obtained by TMZ. Bailey was pronounced dead about 10 minutes after first responders arrived. Authorities opened a death investigation, and no official cause or manner of death had been announced as of Saturday. Bailey’s brother, Alford Bailey Jr., previously told TMZ that the family believed Bailey died of natural causes.
Bailey’s death prompted tributes from the Kansas City Chiefs, former teammates and coaches who remembered him as a dependable player and an important presence in the locker room. Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who coached Bailey for six seasons, called him one of his favorite players and said the news was especially difficult because of Bailey’s age. The Chiefs described Bailey in a public tribute as an excellent teammate, generous man and kind person.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who shared the Kansas City locker room with Bailey during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, recalled the defensive lineman as one of the first players who caught his attention when Mahomes entered the NFL. Mahomes said Bailey’s size immediately illustrated the difference between college and professional football. He also described Bailey as a “glue guy” who helped keep the team together and contributed beyond what appeared in statistics.
Kansas City selected Bailey with the 86th overall pick in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft after his college career at the University of Miami. He remained with the Chiefs through the 2018 season, appearing in 102 regular-season games and making 61 starts. During those eight seasons, Bailey recorded 207 combined tackles and 19.5 sacks, according to Pro Football Reference.
Bailey had one of his strongest seasons in 2018, his final year with Kansas City. He recorded a career-high six sacks and scored the only touchdown of his NFL career during the Chiefs’ 54-51 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 19, 2018. Bailey recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown during the high-scoring Monday night game.
After leaving Kansas City, Bailey signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2019 and played two seasons with the team. He appeared in 31 games for Atlanta and made nine starts before the Falcons released him in February 2021. Across his 10 NFL seasons, Bailey played in 133 regular-season games, made 70 starts and finished with 248 combined tackles and 22 sacks.
Bailey was raised on Sapelo Island, Georgia, and attended McIntosh County Academy before joining the Miami Hurricanes. He played four seasons at Miami and became a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. The university said at the time of the 2011 draft that Bailey had been a four-year letterwinner and finished his college career with 31 tackles for loss in 50 games.
His death also brought tributes from people connected to his college career and former NFL teammates. Much of the reaction centered on Bailey’s relationships with teammates and his character away from the field. The Chiefs and Falcons both publicly offered condolences to his family and friends after news of his death became public.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigation remained open, according to reports citing the police record. A cardiac-arrest call describes the medical emergency reported to first responders but does not establish an underlying cause of death. No official medical determination explaining Bailey’s death had been publicly released as of Saturday.
Author note: Last updated October 24, 2026.