KEY POINT
- Bailey played eight seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs before finishing his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons.
- Head coach Andy Reid remembered Bailey as a favorite player who gave consistent effort on every snap.
- Bailey recorded 22 sacks, 248 tackles, four forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries during his 10 year NFL career.
Bailey’s death prompted tributes from the Kansas City organization, including Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who shared the field with him during the defensive end’s final two seasons with the Chiefs.
Reid addressed the loss at the beginning of his news conference Wednesday, expressing sympathy for Bailey’s family and describing the death as particularly difficult because of his age.”One of my favorite players. Great kid,” Reid said. “Just sorry to see that happened to him.”
Rather than focusing solely on Bailey’s performance, Reid highlighted his character and the everyday interactions that made him memorable. He recalled Bailey’s interest in hunting and an exchange about possums, illustrating the defender’s outdoorsman personality away from football.
Reid also praised Bailey’s consistency, saying he delivered an honest effort on every play. That reliability helped explain why the coach valued him beyond the statistics associated with his position.
Patrick Mahomes Remembers His First Encounter With Bailey
Mahomes recalled seeing Bailey when he first entered the Chiefs’ locker room after being drafted in 2017. The imposing defensive end gave the young quarterback an immediate reminder of the physical demands of professional football.
Mahomes said he retells the experience to quarterbacks each year as an example of his introduction to the NFL environment.
He also described Bailey as a glue player whose contributions helped a team function, even without the attention given to its biggest stars. Mahomes said the news was terrible to hear and expressed support for Bailey’s family on behalf of his teammates.
His comments highlighted a different measure of Bailey’s value: the influence a dependable teammate can have inside a locker room, beyond individual achievements.
Bailey entered professional football after playing college football at the University of Miami. He earned first team All Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2009 and second team recognition in 2010, establishing himself as a notable defensive prospect.
The Chiefs selected him in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He began his Kansas City career under head coach Todd Haley and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, eventually spending eight seasons with the franchise.
After Reid became head coach in 2013, Kansas City signed Bailey to a four-year contract extension in 2014, during a season in which he recorded five sacks.
He followed that performance with 4.5 sacks in 2015 before reaching a career high of six sacks in 2018, his final season with Kansas City. Bailey subsequently joined the Atlanta Falcons, where he played in 2019 and 2020.
Reid’s tribute also carried a personal note. He mentioned that Bailey’s father had died young, adding another layer of sadness to the family’s loss.
“It’s life, but it makes you sick when it happens that young,” Reid said.
The Chiefs did not disclose Bailey’s cause of death in their announcement. No further details about the circumstances were provided in the supplied reporting.
For those who coached and played alongside him, Bailey’s legacy extends beyond his statistics: Reid remembered a tough, dependable defender, while Mahomes recalled a teammate whose presence helped hold a team together.
