Chiefs mourn DL Allen Bailey, nicknamed ‘The Hulk,’ after death at 37

Chiefs mourn DL Allen Bailey, nicknamed 'The Hulk, ' after death at 37.

Key points

• "It's perfect, " former Chiefs edge rusher Dee Ford informed the Kansas City Star in 2014.
• Posted just below a welcome sign for Hog Hammock rests another sign: "Home of Allen Bailey." SMS Facebook Twitter Email.
• Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes remarked Wednesday he still annually tells the story of seeing Bailey at organized team activities for the first time as a rookie in 2017.
• "He's kind of a gentle giant, " former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson informed the team's website in 2017.

Chiefs mourn DL Allen Bailey, nicknamed 'The Hulk, ' after death at 37. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz USA TODAY. Andy Reid reflects on Allen Bailey's death at age 37.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid remembers former DE Allen Bailey. This person died at 37, calling him one of his favorite players to coach.

Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey, a 10-year NFL veteran who earned the nickname "The Hulk" for his burly physique and superlative athleticism, has died, his brother informed TMZ. Bailey was 37.

Alford Bailey Jr. Informed TMZ that his brother died Tuesday, Oct. 20, at his home in Florida.

"Our hearts go out to his family. Prayers are with them, " Chiefs coach Andy Reid remarked in a news conference on Wednesday, Oct. 21. "Way too young, obviously. One of my favorite players. Great kid. Just sorry to see that happened to him."

Bailey played for the Chiefs from 2011-18. Alongside the likes of Chris Jones, Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, he became a mainstay for a defensive front that created consistent havoc for opposing quarterbacks and supported lay the groundwork for Kansas City to become an AFC power.

Meanwhile, a number of of Bailey's former teammates on the Chiefs and at Miami posted on social media Tuesday evening after hearing news of his death.

"Lost a teammate, a friend, a brother, " former Chiefs offensive lineman Jeff Allen wrote on Twitter. "God needed another angel. Rest straightforward, my brother."

Remarked the Chiefs in an official note on Twitter: "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."

Notably, a third-round pick in 2011, Bailey served primarily as a backup early in his career. After ascending to a starting role in 2014, nevertheless, he broke out by recording five sacks in 12 starts.

Midway through that campaign, he signed a four-year, $25 million contract extension. How Allen Baily became "The Hulk".

Listed at 6-3 and 288 pounds, Bailey remarked he first was bestowed with the "Hulk" nickname as a freshman at Miami, where he was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection.

In Kansas City, nevertheless, teammates and coaches took a particular shine to the moniker as they witnessed Bailey's feats of strengths.

"It's perfect, " former Chiefs edge rusher Dee Ford informed the Kansas City Star in 2014. "Looks like the Hulk. Plays like the Hulk. He's a complete player, man. He's powerful, fast. He's just a freak. You see him do certain stuff. There's a select few guys in the league like that."

"I'm like, 'This isn't the Big 12 (Conference) anymore, '" Mahomes remarked. "Like it was surreal to see him, and so I tell that story every single year."

Meanwhile, the "Hulk" nickname, nevertheless, belied Bailey's personality. Teammates throughout the years consistently described him as soft-spoken and affable.

"He's kind of a gentle giant, " former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson informed the team's website in 2017. "You know not to mess with him, but meanwhile, he's particularly approachable. He laughs and jokes with me all the time."

Playing defensive end in defensive coordinator Bob Sutton's hybrid 3-4 scheme for the bulk of his career, Bailey operated in a role that didn't always afford him the spotlight. Instead, much of his work was centered on freeing up teammates to create plays.

"He's a guy who makes my job easier, " Johnson remarked. "I mean, I can't tell you enough words to express how much Allen Bailey means to the defensive line and to our defense. Seeing that guy, before you even snap the ball, individuals are looking at him like, 'OK, we've secured something on our hands.'".

Bailey played the final two years of his career with the Atlanta Falcons, reuniting with Sutton after the coordinator's dismissal by the Chiefs.

Bailey was born and raised on Sapelo Island, Georgia. The Hog Hammock community in which he grew up was estimated to comprise just 70 full-time residents as of 2024, according to the Savannah Morning News, and had no police or grocery store.

Posted just below a welcome sign for Hog Hammock rests another sign: "Home of Allen Bailey." SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around chiefs mourn DL Allen Bailey, nicknamed The Hulk, after death at 37 point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.