Jacob Richard Bailey (born June 18, 1997) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

punter for the

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Stanford Cardinal The Stanford Cardinal are the college athletics in the United States, athletic teams that represent Stanford University. Stanford's program has won 138 National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA team championships, the List of NCAA schools ...

Early life

Bailey attended Santa Fe Christian Schools in

Solana Beach, California Solana Beach (''Solana'', Spanish language, Spanish for "sunny side") is a beach city in San Diego County, California, on the South Coast (California), South Coast. Its population was at 12,940 at the 2020 U.S. census, up from 12,867 at the 2010 ...

. During his high school career, he was the nation's fourth-best kicker rated by ESPN and the nation's sixth-best punter rated by 24/7Sports. He lettered in football, track and field, and soccer.

College career

While at

Stanford Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth governor of and th ...

, Bailey had the longest punt in the school's history at 84 yards. In four years he punted 185 times and is the all-time team leader in career punt average with 43.8 yards per kick. Bailey was a three-time All-Pac-12 Conference honoree and two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention.

College statistics

Professional career

New England Patriots

2019 season

Bailey was selected by the

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...

in the fifth round (163rd overall) of the

2019 NFL draft The 2019 NFL draft was the 84th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2019 NFL season. The draft was held on April 25–27 in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville. The first round was held ...

. Upon joining the roster, Bailey competed with incumbent punter Ryan Allen, who had been with the Patriots for 6 seasons. Bailey won the competition, and Allen was released on August 19, 2019, after the Patriots' second preseason game. Bailey serves as the Patriots' holder on field goals, as Allen did. After Patriots kicker

Stephen Gostkowski Stephen Carroll Gostkowski ( ; born January 28, 1984) is an American former professional football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. A member of the New England Patriots for most of his career, he is th ...

was placed on

injured reserve The injured reserve list ( IR list) is a designation used in North American professional sports leagues for athletes who suffer injuries and become unable to play. The exact name of the list varies by league; it is known as "injured reserve" in ...

, Bailey took over kickoff duties as well. On September 25, 2019, he was named

American Football Conference The American Football Conference (AFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL), the highest level of professional American football in the United States. The AFC and its counterpart, the National Football Conference ...

(AFC)

Special Teams In American football, the specific role that a player takes on the field is referred to as their position. Under the modern rules of American football, both teams are allowed 11 players on the field at one time and have "unlimited free substitu ...

Player of the Week for his efforts against the

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

in Week 3. He again won the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 11 versus the

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...

, when he had five punts of 50+ yards and six landing inside the 20. Jake Bailey

2020 season

He averaged 48.7 gross yards per punt, had a long of 71, and landed 31 punts inside the 20 yard line. Bailey was one of three Patriots players, along with special teamer

Matthew Slater Matthew Wilson Slater (born September 9, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 16 seasons with the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). A special teams player for most of his ...

and cornerback Stephon Gilmore, named to the 2021 Pro Bowl. In January 2021, Bailey was named to the 2020 AP All-Pro first team at punter, making him the first Patriots punter so honored. He received 26 of 50 votes. Bailey was one of three Patriots special teamers named to the team; Gunner Olszewski was named first-team punt returner, and Matthew Slater was named second-team special teamer.

2022 season

On August 1, 2022, Bailey signed a four-year, $13.5 million contract extension through the 2025 season. He was placed on injured reserve on November 19, 2022. On March 10, 2023, Bailey was released by the Patriots.

Miami Dolphins

2023 season

On March 17, 2023, Bailey signed with the

2024 season

On March 14, 2024, Bailey re-signed with the Dolphins on a two-year contract extension.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Personal life

His parents are Brad and Susan Bailey and he has one sister named Aly. While at Stanford, he got his pilot's license. On December 19, 2023, Jake got engaged to attorney Bailey Medeiros, a former

cheerleader and Miss Massachusetts Teen USA 2014.

References

External links

Miami Dolphins bioStanford Cardinal bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Jake Living people People from Solana Beach, California Players of American football from San Diego County, California American football punters Stanford Cardinal football players Miami Dolphins players New England Patriots players 1997 births American Conference Pro Bowl players Players of American football from Phoenix, Arizona