Allen Bailey remembered: Mahomes, Reid and the Chiefs pay tribute to 'The Hulk'

The Kansas City Chiefs spent Wednesday remembering Allen Bailey, the defensive end nicknamed “The Hulk” who played eight seasons in Kansas City. Bailey was found dead in his Florida home on Tuesday, Oct. 20. He was 37. Coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes both spoke about him at the team facility, and “former chiefs player allen bailey” drew more than 50,000 US searches on Google Trends.

Allen Bailey’s cause of death: what’s known

No official cause of death had been released as of Wednesday afternoon, ESPN and WTOC reported. His family told TMZ they believe he died of natural causes, according to ESPN, The Kansas City Star and The Guardian.

Reports differ on who found him. ESPN and The Guardian say Bailey was found by his wife. The Kansas City Star, citing TMZ, says he was found by his brother. WTOC reported that his brother, Alford Bailey Jr., told TMZ his body was discovered at home on Tuesday. We’ll update if officials release more information.

Mahomes: “One of those glue guys”

Mahomes was Bailey’s teammate for two seasons after Kansas City drafted him in 2017, and he said he still tells the story of the first time he saw Bailey.

“I tell this story every year: He was the first person I saw when I stepped into the locker room after the draft,” Mahomes said, according to ESPN. “I see Allen Bailey and I’m like, ‘This isn’t the Big 12 anymore.’ It was surreal to see him.”

He added: “A great teammate – he’s one of those glue guys on the team. He makes plays. He’s not necessarily a superstar, but the guy that kind of makes everything go. We’re praying for his family. [As] teammates, we’ve talked and we know that we’re going to do whatever we can to support those guys.”

Reid: “It makes you sick”

Reid coached Bailey for six of his eight seasons in Kansas City, WTOC noted, and called him one of his favorite players during his weekly news conference.

“Our hearts go out to his family, and our prayers are with them,” Reid said, per ESPN. “Way too young, obviously. He was one of my favorite players, a great kid.”

Reid also pointed to Bailey’s family history. “It’s terrible, especially with all the good he [did],” he said. “He’s got a family and that’s a sad deal. I know his father passed away young, too. It makes you sick when it happens to somebody that young.”

Reid had a lighter memory, too. Bailey was a big hunter, and Reid told The Kansas City Star about mentioning a possum he saw on his morning drive. Bailey’s reply, as Reid told it: “Don’t eat those possums. They eat garbage. Gotta get the ones that eat chestnuts.”

The team and former teammates

The Chiefs released a statement, quoted by WTOC: “Allen Bailey was an excellent teammate, generous man, and kind soul. We’re deeply saddened to hear of his passing, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

Within hours of the news, current pass rusher Chris Jones and former teammates including receiver Dwayne Bowe, center Mitch Morse and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz shared their respect and love for Bailey’s fun, energetic personality, ESPN reported.

His career by the numbers

• Drafted: third round, 2011, out of the University of Miami.
• Chiefs (2011-18): 102 games, 61 starts, 207 tackles and 19.5 sacks, per WTOC and The Kansas City Star.
• Best year: 2018, with a career-high six sacks, 10 quarterback hits and four fumble recoveries, ESPN said.
• Lone touchdown: a fumble return in the Chiefs’ 54-51 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 19, 2018.
• Falcons (2019-20): 31 games before Atlanta released him in February 2021, WTOC reported.
• Career: 133 games, 22 sacks, seven fumble recoveries and 40 tackles for loss, per ESPN.

From Sapelo Island

Bailey grew up in Hog Hammock on Sapelo Island, a barrier island off the Georgia coast that can only be reached by boat and has fewer than 70 residents, The Guardian reported.

“I’m from a place a little out of the normal,” Bailey told Distraction magazine in 2018, as quoted by The Guardian. “It’s relatively quiet; no stop signs, no traffic lights. It’s mostly dirt roads.”

He described his childhood to The Kansas City Star in 2013: “We couldn’t go too far because you could get lost. That’s all we did, really: walk around. It was adventurous.”

FAQ

How old was Allen Bailey? 37.

What was Allen Bailey’s cause of death? Not officially announced. His family told TMZ they believe it was natural causes.

Who did he play for? The Kansas City Chiefs (2011-18) and the Atlanta Falcons (2019-20).

Earlier coverage: Allen Bailey, former Chiefs defensive end nicknamed 'The Hulk,' dies at 37 (Oct 21)