Patrick Mahomes is remembering his former Kansas City Chiefs teammate Allen Bailey following the defensive end's death at age 37.
The Chiefs confirmed Allen's death during a press conference on Wednesday, October 21.
Mahomes, who joined the Chiefs as a quarterback in 2017, recalled his first memory of meeting Allen after being drafted by the team.
"I tell this story kind of like every year with [quarterbacks]. He was the first person I saw when I stepped into the locker room [in Kansas City]. I think it was after one of the drafts. They were in OTAs. I stepped into the locker room and see Allen Bailey, and I'm like, 'This isn't the Big 12 anymore.' It was surreal to see him, so I tell that story every single year," Mahomes said, per The Athletic .
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Mahomes also described Allen as a "great teammate" and called the news of his death "terrible."
"He's one of those glue guys on the team. He makes plays, but he's not necessarily the superstar, but the guy that kind of makes everything go," Mahomes continued of Allen's contributions to the team.
"It was terrible to hear that news later last night. We're praying for his family, and know that all his teammates, we've talked, and we know that we're going to do whatever we can to support those guys," Mahomes added, according to the report.
The Chiefs also paid tribute to Allen in a statement shared on X .
"Allen Bailey was an excellent teammate, generous man, and kind soul. We're deeply saddened to hear of his passing, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends," the team account posted.
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Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also remembered Allen during Wednesday's press conference, calling him one of his favorite players.
According to The Athletic , Allen played 10 seasons in the NFL, recording 248 tackles, 22 sacks, seven fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles. He also recorded 40 tackles for loss. He played the final two seasons of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons.
Allen's wife found him dead inside their Florida home on Tuesday, October 20, his brother, Alford Bailey Jr. , told TMZ . A cause of death has not been announced, though the family believes he died of natural causes.
This story Patrick Mahomes Honors Kansas City Chiefs Player Allen Bailey as a 'Great Teammate' After Death at 37 first appeared on First for Sports . Follow First for Sports on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
