Champ Bailey

Champ Bailey was a lockdown Hall of Fame cornerback for the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos.

Champ Bailey intercepted Tom Brady in the 2005 AFC Divisional playoff and returned it 100 yards, run down and tackled one yard short of the end zone by tight end Ben Watson. It remains one of the most replayed plays in NFL playoff history, and a fair summary of why quarterbacks spent a decade avoiding his side of the field. Born in Folkston, Georgia, Roland Bailey Jr. earned the nickname "Champ" from his grandmother long before any of that, starring at the University of Georgia as both a cornerback and return specialist and earning All-American honors. Selected fifth overall by the Washington Redskins in 1999, Bailey immediately demonstrated his exceptional coverage abilities and football intelligence. During his five seasons in Washington, he earned four Pro Bowl selections and established himself as an elite cornerback capable of shutting down opposing teams' top receivers. His combination of size, speed, and technical precision made him virtually unbeatable in man-to-man coverage, while his instincts for the ball resulted in consistent interception production. The 2004 trade to Denver marked the beginning of Bailey's most dominant period, anchoring defenses that consistently ranked among the league's best for the better part of a decade. He earned Pro Bowl honors in eight of his ten seasons there. Bailey's career totals include 12 Pro Bowl selections and 10 All-Pro honors, making him one of the most decorated defensive backs in NFL history. His 52 career interceptions rank among the highest for cornerbacks, while his ability to completely eliminate receivers from opposing offenses redefined expectations for the position. Following his retirement after the 2013 season, Bailey's technique-based approach and professional consistency established the template for modern cornerback play. His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019 arrived with little debate — a fitting coda for a corner who spent a decade making receivers someone else's problem.

Elite coverage cornerback with exceptional speed, intelligence, and ball skills who could shut down top receivers

Considered one of the best cornerbacks ever to play, revolutionized the position with his combination of size, speed, and coverage ability

• Pro Football Hall of Fame
• 12x Pro Bowl
• 3x First-Team All-Pro