Allen Bailey Death: Clay County Sheriff's Office Investigating, Cause Still Not Released

The death of former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey, 37, is now the subject of a Clay County Sheriff's Office investigation. His family has said they believe he died of natural causes. No official cause of death has been released.

Bailey was found dead Tuesday, Oct. 20, at his home in Green Cove Springs, Florida. His brother, Alford Bailey Jr., told TMZ that Bailey's wife, Lauren, found him.

What the police report says

A police report obtained by TMZ says deputies were dispatched on a cardiac arrest call. First responders pronounced Bailey dead about 10 minutes after they arrived.

According to the same report as relayed by TMZ, an unnamed person met responders at the property's gate, unlocked it and led them to a garage next to the residence. That is where they found Bailey.

TMZ also reported that the sheriff's office opened an investigation into the death. The report does not say what the investigation is examining, and the sheriff's office has not publicly laid out its findings.

A cardiac arrest call describes what responders were sent to treat. It is not a medical finding on why a man's heart stopped. Only the medical examiner can supply that, and no ruling has been announced.

The family's position

Alford Bailey Jr. told TMZ the family believes Bailey died of natural causes. That belief came before any official determination, and the family has not said what it is based on.

No charges have been filed. No suspect has been named. No source in the record describes the death as a homicide or as suspicious.

The open investigation and the family's account are not necessarily in conflict. Until the sheriff's office or the medical examiner says more, the cause remains unknown.

The career and the tributes

Bailey was born March 25, 1989, on Sapelo Island, Georgia, and played at the University of Miami. The Chiefs drafted him 86th overall in the third round of the 2011 draft.

He spent eight seasons in Kansas City. His best statistical year was 2018, when he had six sacks, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries over 16 games. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons in July 2019 on a two-year, $10.5 million deal. Atlanta released him Feb. 18, 2021.

He finished with 133 regular-season games, 248 combined tackles and 22 sacks.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid opened his Wednesday, Oct. 21, press conference with the news. "Our hearts go out to his family. Prayers are with them," Reid said. "Way too young, obviously. One of my favorite players. Great kid."

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who played with Bailey in 2017 and 2018, called him "one of those glue guys on the team." "Not necessarily the superstar, but the guy that makes everything go," Mahomes said.

The team called him "an excellent teammate, generous man, and kind soul." Former Chiefs lineman Jeff Allen wrote on X: "Lost a teammate, a friend, a brother." Former Miami teammate Colin McCarthy posted, "Lost a fellow brother today… prayers to AB family!"

Work in Georgia

Bailey founded the Allen Bailey Foundation in 2012. It serves families in McIntosh, Glynn and Camden counties in Georgia.

Its programs include Southeast Skillz, which became McIntosh County's first free youth football camp, as well as backpack giveaways and scholarships. The foundation's Don't Be Jive Turkey Drive, started in 2016, has handed out more than 300 turkeys to families ahead of Thanksgiving.

What comes next

The medical examiner's finding on cause and manner of death is the missing piece. Neither the sheriff's office nor the examiner has said when it will be released.