Former Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey dies at 37 in Florida; family says natural causes

Allen Bailey, a former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end, was found dead Tuesday at age 37 inside his Florida home, according to his family. His brother, Alford Bailey Jr., told TMZ that Bailey's wife found him, and the family believes he died of natural causes. The Chiefs drafted Bailey in the third round of the 2011 draft out of the University of Miami. He played 10 NFL seasons, eight with Kansas City and two with Atlanta, appearing in 133 games with 22 sacks and 248 combined tackles. Bailey, a native of Sapelo Island, Georgia, last played in 2020 at age 31.

Left-leaning coverage, led by The New York Times, centers on Bailey's career and personal character, with a headline praising him and a focus on his eight Kansas City seasons. Alternative outlets ESPN and TMZ both report the death, but ESPN leads with the Chiefs' mourning while TMZ leads with the brother's account. Right-leaning outlets, the New York Post and Breitbart, emphasize the family's natural-causes explanation, teammates' tributes and college background; Breitbart also cites a Yahoo! Sports story on his recruiting. Across sources, the core facts of his age and career are consistent.