Allen Bailey was the kind of player teams win with but rarely talk about. He spent eight seasons in Kansas City at a time when the Chiefs were remaking themselves into a championship contender, and his steadiness along the defensive line was part of what made those rosters functional. He never led the league in sacks or made a Pro Bowl, but he played 133 career games, made 70 starts, finished with 248 tackles and 22 sacks, and kept his job in a league that cuts players constantly. A third-round pick in 2011, he earned a four-year, $25 million extension after his fourth season, which says something about the organization’s faith in him during its own transition years. By the time he reached Atlanta in 2019, his best football was behind him, but the Falcons kept him around long enough for two contracts before releasing him in February 2021.
The College Career
Bailey played defensive end at the University of Miami, where he was named to the All-ACC first team in 2009 and the second team in 2010. That back-to-back recognition made him one of the more reliable prospects coming out of the conference that spring.
Eight Seasons in Kansas City
The Chiefs selected Bailey in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, 86th overall. He recorded his first sack that season and worked his way into a starting role as Kansas City rebuilt around new coaching and eventually a new quarterback. In November 2014, the Chiefs rewarded him with a four-year extension worth $25 million. He landed on injured reserve on October 18, 2016, but came back and had his best statistical season in 2018, when he posted six sacks and led the NFL with four fumble recoveries.
The Falcons signed him in July 2019 for two years and $10.5 million, then extended him in March 2020 on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. Atlanta released him on February 18, 2021. His career ended with four forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and one touchdown.