Zack Bailey Bio
Zackary Dalton Bailey, known professionally as Zack Bailey, is an American professional football offensive guard. Born on November 8, 1995, in Summerville, South Carolina, he has spent his entire professional career navigating the margins of NFL rosters as an undrafted free agent who has consistently earned opportunities through perseverance. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 143 kilograms, Bailey plays the interior line positions and has appeared in games for multiple franchises since entering the league in 2019.
Bailey played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, where he became a four-year starter and earned All-Southeastern Conference recognition. After going unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and embarked on a journeyman career that has included stints with eight different organizations. His path illustrates the demanding reality faced by many undrafted linemen who must rely on practice squad promotions and short-term contracts to extend their careers.
Zack Bailey Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Zackary Dalton Bailey was born on November 8, 1995, in Summerville, South Carolina, a suburban town located in the Lowcountry region near Charleston. He grew up in the same community where he would later become a celebrated high school athlete, surrounded by a strong local football culture that produced numerous college prospects. His family provided a supportive environment that allowed him to develop both athletically and academically.
Bailey attended Summerville High School, where he played football under legendary head coach John McKissick, who at the time of Bailey’s high school career was recognized as the all-time winningest coach in high school football history. Playing left guard, Bailey helped lead the Green Wave to the second round of the state playoffs during his senior season. His performance that year earned him finalist status for the South Carolina Mr. Football award, one of the highest individual honors in the state.
Recruiting analysts at Rivals.com regarded Bailey as a four-star prospect and ranked him as the second-best player in the state of South Carolina. He was also rated the fifth-best offensive guard nationally, and his combination of size, mobility, and football intelligence drew numerous scholarship offers from major college programs. After graduating in 2015, Bailey chose to remain in state and enroll at the University of South Carolina.
Zack Bailey Path to American Football
Path to American Football
Bailey arrived at the University of South Carolina in 2015 as a true freshman and quickly made an immediate impact on the offensive line. That season, he appeared in 12 games and started five, splitting time between left guard and center. His early versatility caught the attention of the coaching staff and signaled a future role as a multi-position interior lineman at the collegiate level.
As a sophomore in 2016, Bailey established himself as one of the most reliable players on the Gamecocks roster. He started every game at left guard, served as a team captain for several contests, and was named co-winner of the team’s Offensive Tenacity Award alongside tight end Hayden Hurst. The Gamecocks coaching staff described him as the most consistent and highest performing offensive lineman on the roster that season.
During his junior year in 2017, Bailey transitioned from the interior line to right tackle in order to fill a positional need for the team. He started eight of nine games he appeared in before a midseason injury against Kentucky forced him to miss four contests. Despite the setback, he earned third-team All-Southeastern Conference honors from the league’s coaches and was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. After the season, Bailey considered declaring for the NFL Draft but elected to return for his senior year in order to earn his degree, becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college.
Zack Bailey Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Bailey was invited to the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, though a prior injury limited his participation to just three events. He went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft but signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent shortly after the draft concluded. Bailey impressed during training camp and became the only undrafted rookie to make the Buccaneers’ final roster that year, a notable achievement given the organization’s depth along the offensive line.
His rookie season was disrupted when he suffered an injury shortly after making the team and was placed on injured reserve. Bailey returned to health in 2020 but was released at the Buccaneers’ final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad. He was released from the practice squad on November 3, 2020, concluding his initial NFL chapter in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Breakthrough (2019–2020)
Although his time in Tampa Bay did not feature regular-season game appearances, Bailey’s breakthrough moment came when he made the Buccaneers’ final 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2019. That accomplishment, in an organization with playoff aspirations and veteran depth, established him as a legitimate NFL prospect. The Buccaneers kept him on injured reserve following his in-season injury, and then brought him back to the practice squad the following year, indicating continued organizational interest in his development.
Minnesota Vikings First Stint (2020–2021)
After his release from Tampa Bay, Bailey received tryouts from 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 with Minnesota in January 2021, securing a path to the offseason program and training camp. Bailey was waived at the Vikings’ final roster cuts but was re-signed to the practice squad shortly thereafter.
On October 13, 2021, the Vikings released Bailey from their practice squad, ending his first stint with the franchise. His time in Minnesota provided important developmental reps and exposure to a different offensive system, helping him build the versatility that has defined his career.
Indianapolis Colts and Washington (2021–2022)
Two days after his release from the Vikings, Bailey signed with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. He was released by the Colts on October 26, 2021, and shortly afterward received a tryout from the Houston Texans. On November 2, 2021, he signed with the Washington Football Team’s practice squad. Bailey was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on December 23, 2021, and activated one week later, before receiving a reserve/future contract in January 2022. Washington released him on May 16, 2022.
Los Angeles Chargers and Atlanta Falcons (2022–2024)
On May 17, 2022, Bailey was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Chargers. He was waived at the Chargers’ final roster cuts in August 2022 but was re-signed to the practice squad. He earned an elevation to the active roster for the Chargers’ Week 13 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, where he made his NFL debut and appeared on four special teams snaps. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 17, 2023, and was waived and re-signed to the practice squad again on August 29, 2023, before being promoted to the active roster on September 23. His 2023 season ended on December 9 when he was placed on injured reserve. On July 24, 2024, Bailey was signed by the Atlanta Falcons, but he was waived on August 25 of that year.
New York Jets Era (2024–2025)
On November 5, 2024, Bailey was signed to the New York Jets practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on January 6, 2025, and participated in the team’s offseason program. On June 12, 2025, Bailey was waived by the Jets as part of the team’s roster management during the summer months.
Minnesota Vikings Second Stint (2025)
On August 19, 2025, Bailey signed with the Minnesota Vikings for a second stint with the franchise. However, the Vikings waived him on August 24, 2025, during final roster cuts, ending his brief return to the team.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bailey is recognized for his positional versatility, having started games at left guard, center, and right tackle during his college career at South Carolina. His combination of size and athletic mobility allows him to fit in both zone and gap blocking schemes at the professional level. Coaches have consistently valued his intelligence and ability to absorb multiple offensive systems, which has helped him remain employable across many organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bailey’s most notable milestones include making the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ final roster as an undrafted rookie in 2019 and making his official NFL debut with the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13 of the 2022 season against the Las Vegas Raiders. He also earned third-team All-SEC honors as a junior and second-team All-SEC recognition as a senior at South Carolina, where he graduated with a degree in criminal justice in December 2018.
Zack Bailey Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information regarding Zack Bailey’s family background is limited. He has noted that he became the first member of his family to graduate from college when he completed his degree at the University of South Carolina in December 2018, suggesting that higher education was not a long-standing family tradition. Further details about his parents or extended family have not been publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
Bailey was born and raised in Summerville, South Carolina, and has maintained ties to his hometown throughout his professional career. He completed a degree in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina, reflecting an interest in the field beyond professional sports. Public information about his marital status, spouse, or children has not been confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Bailey’s 2025 campaign began with a reserve/future contract from the New York Jets, signed on January 6, 2025, which provided him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot during offseason workouts and training camp. He was waived by the Jets on June 12, 2025, as part of the team’s summer roster evaluation. The transaction reflected the highly competitive nature of the offensive guard position, where teams often carry multiple veterans competing for limited roster spots.
On August 19, 2025, Bailey signed with the Minnesota Vikings, returning to a franchise where he had previously spent time on the practice squad. The signing suggested the Vikings were intrigued by his familiarity with their offensive system. However, Bailey was waived by Minnesota on August 24, 2025, during final roster cuts, ending his second stint with the team before the regular season began.
As of the 2025 season, Zack Bailey remains a free agent available to sign with any NFL franchise in need of interior offensive line depth. His career trajectory illustrates the resilience required of undrafted linemen, who frequently move between practice squads and active rosters across multiple teams. Given his track record of earning reserve/future contracts and practice squad promotions, Bailey is likely to receive another opportunity before the conclusion of the 2025 league year.