Champ Bailey
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Career Summary
Champ Bailey was a Hall of Fame cornerback who played 15 NFL seasons with Washington and Denver.
NFL.com records 215 regular-season games, 52 interceptions, 202 passes defensed, and four interception-return touchdowns.
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Early Life
Bailey was born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame lists his birth date as June 22, 1978, in Fort Campbell.
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College Career
Bailey was a versatile Georgia star who contributed on offense, defense, and special teams.
The Hall of Fame reports that he led the Bulldogs with 744 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns in 1998 while also totaling 52 tackles and three interceptions. He earned consensus All-America recognition and the Bronko Nagurski Award that season.
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Path to the NFL
Washington selected Bailey seventh overall in the 1999 NFL Draft.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame identifies him as the first defensive player chosen in that draft.
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NFL Career
Bailey played five seasons in Washington before spending the rest of his career with Denver.
The Hall of Fame lists Washington from 1999 through 2003 and Denver from 2004 through 2013. He led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 2006.
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Career Accomplishments
Bailey earned 12 Pro Bowl selections, five All-Pro honors, and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame identifies him as a member of its Class of 2019 and notes that his 12 Pro Bowl selections are the most by a defensive back in NFL history.
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Playing Style
Bailey was an elite coverage corner with ball skills, versatility, and long-term durability.
The Hall of Fame describes him as a dominant lockdown cornerback and credits him with 52 interceptions and 203 passes defensed. His 2005-06 total of 18 interceptions was the NFL's highest two-season figure in more than two decades.
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Legacy
Bailey is regarded as one of the greatest defensive backs of his era.
In addition to his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, Georgia notes his 2022 College Football Hall of Fame election.
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18122, 00-0000585, 1978-06-22, Champ Bailey, Roland, Bailey
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