Andy Reid’s possum story and Patrick Mahomes’ rookie memory honor former Chiefs DE Allen Bailey
Reid recalled Bailey’s hunting advice about possums on his morning commute, while Mahomes shared the story of their first meeting in Kansas City
T he Kansas City Chiefs are mourning former defensive end Allen Bailey, who died at 37. His wife found him at their Florida home on Tuesday, his brother told TMZ. The family believes Bailey died of natural causes, but no official cause had been released as of Wednesday.
Andy Reid opened his Wednesday news conference with a tribute, calling Bailey “one of my favorite players” and a “great kid.” Then the Chiefs coach shared a small, funny memory that showed how well he knew him.
Reid’s possum story captured Bailey’s outdoorsman side
On his morning drive, Reid would sometimes spot a possum and mention it to Bailey, an avid hunter. Bailey would tell him not to eat those possums because they fed on garbage and that he should look for the ones that ate chestnuts. Reid remembered Bailey as an outdoorsman who was also tough and dependable, giving an honest effort on every play.
Mahomes’ memory went back to the day he entered the Chiefs’ locker room after being drafted in 2017. Bailey was the first player he saw. The sight of the veteran defensive end made Mahomes think, “This isn’t the Big 12 anymore.” He said he still tells the story to quarterbacks every year.
Patrick Mahomes, who played two seasons alongside Bailey, called him a “glue guy” , a teammate who helped make everything work. He said former teammates had talked about how they could support Bailey’s family. The Chiefs also shared a tribute describing Bailey as an excellent teammate, a generous man and a kind soul.
Bailey spent eight seasons with Kansas City after the Chiefs drafted him in the third round out of the University of Miami in 2011. He finished his career with the Atlanta Falcons, recording 248 tackles and 22 sacks in 133 regular-season games.
