SAPELO ISLAND, Ga. — Allen Bailey, a Sapelo Island native and former McIntosh County Academy football standout who spent 10 seasons in the NFL, has died at 37.
The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed his death Wednesday, Oct. 21. Bailey died Oct. 20. His cause of death has not been publicly released.
Bailey’s football career took him from coastal Georgia to the University of Miami and then to the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons. Before playing on the national stage, he attended McIntosh County Academy in Darien, traveling from Sapelo Island to the mainland for school.
Kansas City selected Bailey in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played eight seasons with the Chiefs, from 2011 through 2018, before joining Atlanta for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Over 133 regular-season games, the defensive lineman recorded 248 tackles, 22 sacks and seven fumble recoveries.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid remembered Bailey as one of his favorite players. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes also recalled a teammate whose contributions helped hold the team together.
In McIntosh County, Bailey’s impact extended beyond football. The Allen Bailey Foundation supported young athletes and local families through football camps, school-supply giveaways and holiday assistance.
According to the foundation, its annual “Don’t Be Jive Turkey Drive” began in 2016 and has distributed more than 300 turkeys to families ahead of Thanksgiving. Its backpack giveaways helped children prepare for school, while its free youth football camp gave students opportunities to train with NFL players.
The McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Thornell “T.K.” King also paid tribute to Bailey, remembering his generosity, service and lasting connection to his home community.
The sheriff’s office extended condolences to his wife, children, family and others who loved him.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
Leave a Reply