Rodney Bailey
Encyclopedia
Rodney Dwayne Bailey is a former American football
defensive end
who most recently played for the Arizona Cardinals
of the NFL
. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University and completed his degree in only 3.5 years.
, Bailey attended St. Edward High School
in nearby Lakewood, Ohio
and was a letterman in football. In football, he was named the Cleveland Division I Player of the Year by The Plain Dealer, and was a first team Division I Associated All-State pick. In addition, he was named the Cleveland Touchdown Club player of the year and was named to numerous high school
All-American teams. He graduated from St. Edward in 1997.
.
• Played all 16 games with one start.
• Recorded 12 tackles (11 solo) and 2 sacks.
.
• Recorded 18 tackles (15 solo), 5.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
.
• Recorded 9 tackles (6 solo) and 2 sacks.
.
• Spent season on injured reserve.
• Earned a championship ring
as a member of the winning team for Super Bowl XXXVIII
.
and played 8 games.
• Recorded 13 tackles (8 solos) and 2 forced fumbles.
• Played in 50th game as a member of the Steelers.
• Listed on depth chart as defensive tackle, a change from his usual position of defensive end
.
He is currently enrolled in law school at The Ohio State University.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who most recently played for the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University and completed his degree in only 3.5 years.
Early years
A native of Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Bailey attended St. Edward High School
St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio)
St. Edward High School is private, all-male Catholic, college-preparatory high school located in Lakewood, Ohio, a western Cleveland suburb. It was founded in 1949 and is operated in the by the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana. It is one of three remaining...
in nearby Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders the city of Cleveland. The population was 52,131 at the 2010 making it the third largest city in Cuyahoga County, behind Cleveland and Parma .Lakewood, one of Cleveland's...
and was a letterman in football. In football, he was named the Cleveland Division I Player of the Year by The Plain Dealer, and was a first team Division I Associated All-State pick. In addition, he was named the Cleveland Touchdown Club player of the year and was named to numerous high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
All-American teams. He graduated from St. Edward in 1997.
College career
Entering Ohio State, Bailey was listed as one of the top 40 high school recruits in United States. Bailey started as a true freshman and started 34 games in total. His senior year, Bailey was named a co-captain, named an all-Big Ten selection and was honored as team defensive player of the year.2001
• Drafted in the 6th round by the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
• Played all 16 games with one start.
• Recorded 12 tackles (11 solo) and 2 sacks.
2002
• Played all 16 games and 2 postseason games for the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
• Recorded 18 tackles (15 solo), 5.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
2003
• Played all 16 games for the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
• Recorded 9 tackles (6 solo) and 2 sacks.
2004
• Signed to the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
• Spent season on injured reserve.
• Earned a championship ring
Championship ring
A championship ring is a ring presented to members of winning teams in professional sports leagues, and—in North America—college tournaments. In recent years, it has become common for American, and Canadian high schools to give championship rings to teams that win the state or provincial...
as a member of the winning team for Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
.
2005
• Signed September 14 to the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
and played 8 games.
• Recorded 13 tackles (8 solos) and 2 forced fumbles.
2006
• Played in 12 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers.• Played in 50th game as a member of the Steelers.
2007
• Signed with the Arizona Cardinals.• Listed on depth chart as defensive tackle, a change from his usual position of defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
.
After football
In 2009, St. Edward announced that Bailey would be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.He is currently enrolled in law school at The Ohio State University.