| No. 69 –New York Jets | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive guard | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | (1995-11-08)November 8, 1995 (age 29) Summerville, South Carolina, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 299 lb (136 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Summerville (SC) | ||||
| College: | South Carolina | ||||
| Undrafted: | 2019 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||
| |||||
Zackary Dalton Bailey (born November 8, 1995) is an American professionalfootballoffensive guard for theNew York Jets of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football atSouth Carolina and was signed by theTampa Bay Buccaneers as anundrafted free agent in2019. He later had stints with theMinnesota Vikings,Indianapolis Colts, andWashington Football Team / Commanders.
Bailey was born on November 8, 1995, and grew up inSummerville, South Carolina. He attendedSummerville High School, where he playedfootball for coachJohn McKissick, the all-time most winningest coach at any level. He playedleft guard and helped them reach the second round of the playoffs as asenior, being a finalist for the state "Mr. Football" award.Rivals.com ranked him a four-star prospect and the second-best player in the state, as well as the fifth-best offensive guard nationally. He had numerous scholarship offers after graduating in 2015, and decided to enroll atSouth Carolina.[1][2]
As a truefreshman in 2015, Bailey appeared in 12 games and started five, two of those at left guard and the remaining three as acenter. The following year, he was South Carolina's "most consistent and highest performing offensive lineman," starting every game at left guard, several as a team captain, and being named the co-winner of the Offensive Tenacity Award (withHayden Hurst).[1] He changed his position from interior lineman toright tackle as ajunior in 2017.[3]
In 2017, Bailey appeared in nine games, all but one as a starter, missing four after an injury in the third match of the season (againstKentucky). He was selected to theSoutheastern Conference (SEC) Fall Academic Honor Roll and was named by the league's coaches a third-team all-conference player. After contemplating whether to enter theNFL Draft or return for a senior season, Bailey opted to return to the team in 2018 so he could get a degree, becoming the first member of his family to do so.[1][4]
As a senior, Bailey returned to his former position of left guard and was named team captain, starting 12 games and being named second-team all-conference by the league's coaches andAssociated Press (AP). He was given the Offensive Tenacity Award and was selected to the East–West Shrine All-Star game. In the regular season finale, he suffered a broken right fibula, and as a result missed theBelk Bowl. Bailey graduated in December 2018 with a degree in criminal justice, finishing his college career with 46 games played and 38 starts.[1]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft5+1⁄8 in (1.96 m) | 299 lb (136 kg) | 33 in (0.84 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 5.21 s | 1.80 s | 3.06 s | 4.88 s | 7.71 s | 28.0 in (0.71 m) | 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) | 24 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine/Pro Day[5][6] | ||||||||||||
Bailey was invited to theNFL Scouting Combine, but was only able to participate in three events due to his injury.[7][8] He went unselected in the2019 NFL draft, but afterwards was signed as anundrafted free agent by theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[9] He was the only undrafted rookie to make the final roster,[10] but suffered an injury shortly afterwards and was placed oninjured reserve.[11] At the final roster cuts in2020, Bailey was released,[12] but afterwards re-signed to thepractice squad.[13] He was released from the practice squad on November 3.[13]
While a free agent, Bailey received tryouts from theBaltimore Ravens,[14]New England Patriots,[15] andMinnesota Vikings.[16] He was signed to the Vikings' practice squad on December 8.[17] Bailey was signed to a futures contract in January 2021.[18] He was waived at the final roster cuts in2021, but was subsequently re-signed to the practice squad.[19][20] He was released from the Vikings' practice squad on October 13, 2021.[21]
Two days after being released by the Vikings, Bailey was signed to the practice squad of theIndianapolis Colts.[22] He was then released on October 26.[23] He received a tryout from theHouston Texans after being released by the Colts.[24]
On November 2, 2021, Bailey was signed by theWashington Football Team to the practice squad.[25] He was placed on theCOVID-19 reserve list on December 23,[26] and activated one week later.[13] Bailey received a reserve/future contract in January 2022.[27] He was released by Washington on May 16, 2022.[28]
On May 17, 2022, Bailey was claimed off waivers by theLos Angeles Chargers.[29] He was waived at the final roster cuts in August,[30] but was afterwards brought back on the practice squad.[31] He received an elevation to the active roster for the Chargers' Week 13 game against theLas Vegas Raiders,[32] and made his NFL debut in the loss, appearing on fourspecial teams snaps.[33] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 17, 2023.[34]
On August 29, 2023, Bailey was waived by the Chargers and re-signed to the practice squad.[35][36] He was promoted to the active roster on September 23.[37] He was placed on injured reserve on December 9.[38]
On July 24, 2024, Bailey was signed by theAtlanta Falcons.[39] He was waived on August 25.[40]
On November 5, 2024, Bailey was signed to theNew York Jets practice squad.[41] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025.[42]
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