Former NFL defensive end Allen Bailey has died at 37, with his family believing he passed away from natural causes after his wife discovered him inside their Florida home. The circumstances surrounding his death have been reported, but no specific medical cause has been confirmed in the supplied information.
Bailey's brother, Alford Jr., told TMZ that his wife found him dead the previous day, as the family believes the former Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons player died naturally, although further details explaining what happened have not been provided.
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The news prompted tributes from people connected to Bailey's football career, including former teammate Colin McCarthy, who announced his death on October 20 and remembered him online.
“Lost a fellow brother today… prayers to AB family! Love you Big Cuzzo!” McCarthy wrote, expressing his grief and support for the family.
Away from the NFL, Bailey invested in the community where he grew up as he established the Allen Bailey Foundation in 2012 to support families in Georgia's McIntosh, Glynn and Camden counties, with initiatives focused on children, education and local needs.
Among its programs was Southeast Skillz, which became McIntosh County's first free football camp. The foundation also distributed backpacks to schoolchildren and supported student-athletes through initiatives including the Champions of Tomorrow Scholarship and Legacy Builders Fund.
Its annual Don't Be Jive Turkey Drive, launched in 2016, provided more than 300 turkeys to families ahead of Thanksgiving.
Those efforts helped Bailey maintain a connection to his hometown long after he left Georgia to pursue a career in professional football.
Allen Bailey (93) makes a tackle in action for the Atlanta FalconsLAPRESSE
What was Allen Bailey's cause of death?
Bailey was born on March 25, 1989, on Sapelo Island, Georgia, and built his professional career after playing college football for the Miami Hurricanes. The Chiefs selected him 86th overall in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
He spent eight seasons in Kansas City, becoming an important member of the defensive line. His best statistical season came in 2018, when he recorded 38 combined tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries across 16 games.
Bailey joined the Falcons in July 2019 on a two-year contract worth $10.5 million. He appeared in 31 games over two seasons with Atlanta before the organization released him on February 18, 2021, bringing his NFL career to a close.
Across 133 regular-season appearances, Bailey recorded 248 combined tackles and 22 sacks. His career also included four forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries, reflecting his contributions as a defensive end throughout his time in the league.
Bailey's cause of death has been described as natural causes by his family with no specific illness named.