Zack Bailey Bio
Zackary Dalton Bailey is an American professional football offensive guard. He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and entered the National Football League (NFL) in 2019 when he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. Since then, he has spent time with multiple franchises, building a journeyman career across practice squads, short stints on active rosters, and reserve or future contracts.
Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and listed at 315 pounds, Bailey has lined up at guard and tackle throughout his career. He is best known for his durability, his work on special teams, and his persistence in moving between NFL rosters.
Early Life and Background
Zackary Dalton Bailey was born on November 8, 1995, in Summerville, South Carolina. He grew up in the same Lowcountry town where he would later attend high school, surrounded by a family that had not produced a college graduate in his parents’ generation. That fact became a quiet motivation as his football career developed.
He attended Summerville High School, where he played football for legendary head coach John McKissick, the all-time winningest coach at any level of high school football. Playing left guard, Bailey helped lead his team to the second round of the state playoffs during his senior season. His performance that year made him a finalist for the state’s Mr. Football award, and Rivals.com ranked him as a four-star recruit, the second-best player in South Carolina, and the fifth-best offensive guard nationally.
After graduating in 2015, Bailey chose to enroll at the University of South Carolina, where he had multiple scholarship offers. His upbringing in Summerville and his background as a first-generation college prospect helped shape the work ethic that carried him into the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Path to American Football
Bailey arrived at South Carolina as a true freshman in 2015 and quickly cracked the lineup. He appeared in 12 games that season and made five starts, opening two games at left guard and three at center. The early exposure gave the young lineman a foundation in both interior and outside blocking.
As a sophomore in 2016, he became a fixture on the offensive line, starting every game at left guard and serving as a team captain for several matchups. His consistency earned him the program’s co-Offensive Tenacity Award, shared with tight end Hayden Hurst. The following year, Bailey shifted to right tackle to show his positional flexibility, a move that scouts would later note in his professional evaluation.
After his junior campaign, Bailey considered declaring for the NFL draft but chose to return for his senior year so he could earn a degree. That decision made him the first member of his family to graduate from college, an achievement he completed in December 2018 with a degree in criminal justice.
Zack Bailey Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Across his four years at South Carolina, Zackary Dalton Bailey played in 46 games and made 38 starts, lining up at left guard, center, and right tackle. As a senior in 2018, he returned to left guard, was named a team captain, and started all 12 games. His work that season earned him second-team All-SEC recognition from both the league’s coaches and the Associated Press, as well as a selection to the East–West Shrine All-Star Game.
Bailey suffered a broken right fibula in the regular-season finale and missed the Belk Bowl, an injury that limited him at the NFL Scouting Combine. He was able to participate in only three events before the 2019 NFL draft, where he went unselected.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019–2020)
After going undrafted, Zackary Dalton Bailey signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent in 2019. He was the only undrafted rookie to make the Buccaneers’ final roster that year, a notable achievement for a player still recovering from his senior-season injury. Shortly after making the team, however, he was placed on injured reserve.
Bailey returned to action in 2020, when he was released at final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad. His time with Tampa Bay ended on November 3, 2020, when he was released from the practice squad.
Minnesota Vikings (First Stint, 2020–2021)
As a free agent, Bailey worked out for the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, and Minnesota Vikings before signing with the Vikings’ practice squad on December 8, 2020. He signed a futures contract in January 2021, then was waived at final roster cuts and brought back on the practice squad. He was released from that practice squad on October 13, 2021.
Indianapolis Colts (2021)
Two days after his release from Minnesota, Zackary Dalton Bailey was signed to the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad. He spent only a short time with Indianapolis before being released on October 26, 2021. After his release, he received a tryout from the Houston Texans.
Washington Football Team / Commanders (2021–2022)
On November 2, 2021, Bailey signed with the Washington Football Team’s practice squad. He was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list in late December and activated one week later. In January 2022, he received a reserve/future contract, but he was released by Washington on May 16, 2022.
Los Angeles Chargers (2022–2023)
One day after his release from Washington, Bailey was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Chargers. He was waived at the 2022 final cuts and re-signed to the practice squad, then elevated to the active roster for the Week 13 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. In that contest, he made his NFL regular-season debut, appearing on four special teams snaps.
Bailey signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers in January 2023. He was waived on August 29, 2023, re-signed to the practice squad, and promoted to the active roster on September 23, before being placed on injured reserve in December.
Atlanta Falcons (2024)
On July 24, 2024, Zackary Dalton Bailey signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He was waived on August 25, 2024, during roster reductions.
New York Jets (2024–2025)
Bailey joined the New York Jets’ practice squad on November 5, 2024, and signed a reserve/future contract in January 2025. He was waived by the Jets on June 12, 2025.
Minnesota Vikings (Second Stint, 2025)
On August 19, 2025, Bailey signed again with the Minnesota Vikings. He was waived by Minnesota during roster cuts on August 24, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bailey has built his professional reputation on versatility along the offensive line, having started at left guard, right tackle, and center during his college career. His 6-foot-5 frame and 315-pound build make him a strong fit for both guard and tackle duties, and his special teams work has helped him earn elevations to active rosters. He has also shown a willingness to do the developmental work that comes with practice-squad football, signing futures and reserve contracts that keep him in the league pipeline.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most significant moments of Bailey’s career came in 2019, when he was the only undrafted rookie to make the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ final roster. His NFL regular-season debut came in 2022 with the Los Angeles Chargers, a game that followed years of practice-squad work and tryouts. He has also earned multiple SEC academic honors, including a spot on the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2017.
Zack Bailey Career Stats
Through the 2024 NFL season, Zackary Dalton Bailey had appeared in 2 career NFL games, with his on-field work coming primarily on special teams. His career has been defined more by movement between practice squads and active rosters than by regular starting duty, a path common to many undrafted offensive linemen.
Zack Bailey Personal Life
Family Background and Personal Details
Zackary Dalton Bailey was raised in Summerville, South Carolina, in a family that had not produced a college graduate in his parents’ generation. He became the first member of his family to graduate from college when he earned his criminal justice degree from the University of South Carolina in December 2018, a milestone he has frequently cited as a point of pride.
Personal Life
Bailey has kept most of his personal life out of the public eye. He is active on social media under his verified accounts, where he shares updates about his football career. Beyond that, no further public personal-life details are widely confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Bailey’s 2025 storyline has once again reflected the journeyman arc of his career. He signed a reserve/future contract with the New York Jets in January 2025 and was waived by the team on June 12, 2025, before the start of training camp. Later that summer, he returned to the Minnesota Vikings on August 19, 2025, but was waived during roster cuts on August 24, 2025.
His continued movement through the league’s practice-squad and futures-contract market suggests he remains firmly in the developmental offensive line pool for NFL teams. Whether he lands another opportunity during the 2025 regular season will depend on injury needs around the league and the continued work that has kept him on rosters since 2019.