Former NFL Player Allen Bailey Dies at 37, Family Says

Allen Bailey Found Dead at Florida Home at Age 37

Former NFL defensive end Allen Bailey, nicknamed the “Hulk” for his 1.91-meter and 131-kilogram frame, was found dead by his wife at his Florida residence at age 37, MARCA reported. The exact cause of death remains unknown, though his family indicated to TMZ that they believe he passed away from natural causes.

A Career Forged With the Kansas City Chiefs

Bailey began his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011, spending the majority of his eight seasons with the franchise. He recorded the strongest campaign of his professional career during the 2018 season before concluding his playing days with a two-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons.

Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid Remember a Vital Teammate

Former teammates and coaches shared memories following the announcement. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes recalled meeting Bailey after the 2017 draft. “I view Allen Bailey and I thought, ‘This is no longer the Big 12,'” Mahomes said, recounting how surreal it was to see him in the locker room. “He was a great teammate; he was one of those guys who kept the team together. He made key plays. Maybe he wasn’t a superstar, but he was the kind of guy who made everything work.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also expressed his grief over the loss. “Our hearts go out to his family and our prayers are with them. It’s too early an age, obviously. He was one of my favorite players, a great kid. I deeply regret that this happened to him,” Reid said, while noting the tragedy is compounded by the fact that Bailey’s father also died at a young age.