Former Kansas City Chiefs Defensive End Allen Bailey Dies at 37: TMZ

Former NFL defensive end Allen Bailey died at his Florida home at the age of 37, with his family believing he passed away from natural causes, according to TMZ.

Wife Discovers Former Lineman at Florida Residence

Bailey’s wife found him dead on a Tuesday inside their Florida residence, according to TMZ. The 6-foot-3-inch Georgia native weighed 288 pounds during his professional playing career. While official authorities have not yet released an exact cause of death, Bailey’s brother informed TMZ that the family suspects natural causes.

Kansas City Confirms Passing and Head Coach Mourns

The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed Bailey’s death during a Wednesday news conference. Head coach Andy Reid paid tribute to his former player during the announcement. “Sad news, the passing of Allen Bailey. Our hearts go out to his family. Prayers are with them. Way too young, obviously,” Reid stated. “One of my favorite players. Great kid, and just sorry to see that happen to him.”

Eight Seasons in Kansas City Followed by Atlanta Run

The University of Miami product entered the league when the Chiefs selected him in the third round with the 86th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. Bailey spent eight seasons with Kansas City through 2018, playing in more than 130 games and recording 22 career sacks. He scored a touchdown during a November 2018 game after recovering a fumble by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff. In 2019, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons, remaining with the franchise until his release in February 2021.

Teammates and Hometown Remember the Defensive End

Former teammates shared tributes on social media following the news. “Lost a teammate, a friend, a brother. God needed another angel. Rest easy, my brother,” Jeff Allen posted. College teammate and former linebacker Colin McCarthy also wrote online, “Love you Big Cuzzo!” A video on the Chiefs website documented Bailey’s upbringing in Sapelo Island, a hometown featuring no police force, school system, or grocery store, where he learned hunting and fishing. “I’m very proud of him,” his mother, Mary Bailey, said in the clip. “I would never believe that someone from this little small island would make it that far. And he made it.”

Medical Research Context on NFL Linemen

Harvard Medical School reported in 2022, citing research from the British Medical Journal, that NFL linemen like Bailey faced a higher likelihood of developing diseases typically associated with advanced age while significantly younger.