Willie Gay

For similarly named people, see William Gay.

Willie Gay
refer to caption
Gay in 2023
No. 6 – New Orleans Saints
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1998-02-15) February 15, 1998 (age 26)
Starkville, Mississippi, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:243 lb (110 kg)
Career information
High school:Starkville (MS)
College:Mississippi State (2017–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / round: 2 / pick: 63
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 3, 2024
Total tackles:249
Sacks:7.0
Forced fumbles:7
Fumble recoveries:5
Interceptions:6
Defensive touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Willie Gay Jr. (born February 15, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Mississippi State. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 63rd overall selection in the 2020 NFL draft.

Early life

Gay attended Starkville High School in Starkville, Mississippi. At Starkville High School, he won the 2015 6A State Championship.[1] He played in the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[2][3] He committed to Mississippi State University to play college football.[4][5]

College career

Gay in 2019

Gay played at Mississippi State from 2017 to 2019.[6] As a junior in 2019, he played in only five games and missed eight due to suspension.[7] After the season, he entered the 2020 NFL draft, forgoing his senior season.[8][9] During his career, he had 99 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions and a touchdown.[10]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+1⁄8 in
(1.86 m) 		243 lb
(110 kg) 		32+5⁄8 in
(0.83 m) 		10+1⁄2 in
(0.27 m)		 4.45 s 1.55 s 2.60 s 4.30 s 7.08 s 39.5 in
(1.00 m)		 11 ft 4 in
(3.45 m)		 21 reps
All values from NFL Combine[11][12]

Kansas City Chiefs

Gay was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round with the 63rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, which was previously acquired by the Chiefs in a 2019 trade that sent Dee Ford to the San Francisco 49ers.[13] In Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Gay recorded his first career sack.[14] On February 6, 2021, Gay was placed on injured reserve, forcing him to miss Super Bowl LV.[15] Without Gay, the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl 31-9 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Gay was placed on injured reserve on September 2, 2021.[16] He was activated on October 9.[17]

On September 19, 2022, Gay was suspended for four games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy due to his arrest in January 2022.[18] Gay went on to help the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35. Gay recorded eight tackles in the Super Bowl.[19]

In 2023, Gay had 58 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, and 4 passes defended. Gay helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LVIII where they defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 to win their second straight championship.[20] Gay recorded 4 tackles in the game.[21]

New Orleans Saints

On March 13, 2024, Gay signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.[22]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2020 KC 16 8 39 29 10 1.0 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2021 KC 12 11 48 26 22 0.5 4 2 14 7.0 13 0 0 0 0 0
2022 KC 13 13 88 51 37 2.5 8 1 47 47.0 47 1 0 1 0 0
2023 KC 16 15 58 44 14 1.0 4 1 24 24.0 24 0 1 3 1 0
Career 57 47 233 150 83 5.0 19 4 85 21.3 47 1 2 4 1 0

Playoffs

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Total Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2020 KC DNP
2021 KC 3 3 11 7 4 0.0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2022 KC 3 3 9 6 3 0.5 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023 KC 3 3 9 5 4 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 9 9 29 19 11 0.5 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Gay was arrested on January 19, 2022, for misdemeanor criminal destruction of property less than $1,000. He reportedly went to see his son at his son's mother's house. The two got into an argument and Gay damaged a vacuum cleaner, a humidifier, and a cellphone screen protector, as well as a wall and door.[23]

References

  1. ^ Horka, Tyler (April 23, 2020). "5 things to know about former Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay Jr". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Rippee, Brian Scott (July 22, 2016). "Dandy Dozen LB Gay to play in Army All-American Bowl". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Smith, Cam (October 6, 2016). "Starkville (Miss.) LB Willie Gay on Ole Miss commitment and Army All-American Bowl". USA Today. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  4. ^ Middleton, Dalton (February 2, 2017). "Starkville High's Gay picks MSU over Ole Miss". The Commercial Dispatch. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  5. ^ Lowery, Logan (September 13, 2017). "Staying home the right choice for Starkville's Gay". Daily Journal. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  6. ^ Coleman, Joel (April 3, 2019). "MSU linebacker Gay Jr. puts in work during spring". Starkville Daily News. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  7. ^ Portnoy, Ben (September 21, 2019). "Willie Gay Jr. brings the dramatics in return from suspension". The Commercial Dispatch. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  8. ^ Horka, Tyler (January 6, 2020). "Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay makes decision on 2020 NFL Draft". The Clarion Ledger. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  9. ^ Lowery, Logan (January 6, 2020). "MSU's Gay entering NFL Draft early". Daily Journal. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  10. ^ "Willie Gay College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  11. ^ "Willie Gay Jr. Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  12. ^ "2020 Draft Scout Willie Gay Jr, Mississippi State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  13. ^ Littler, Tiffany (April 24, 2020). "NFL DRAFT: Chiefs pick Willie Gay Jr. in second round". KSNT. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – October 11th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  15. ^ Franklin, Tucker (February 6, 2021). "Chiefs Place Eric Fisher, Willie Gay On Injured Reserve". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  16. ^ Alper, Josh (September 2, 2021). "Chiefs put Willie Gay on injured reserve". NBCSports.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  17. ^ Teope, Herbie (October 9, 2021). "KC Chiefs activate Willie Gay Jr. from injury list. He's questionable Sunday vs. Bills". KansasCity.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Gordon, Grant (September 19, 2022). "Chiefs LB Willie Gay suspended four games for violating NFL personal conduct policy". NFL.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  19. ^ "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  20. ^ Maaddi, Rob (February 12, 2024). "Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25–22 over 49ers in overtime". AP News. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  21. ^ "Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 11th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  22. ^ "New Orleans Saints agree to terms with linebacker Willie Gay". NewOrleansSaints.com. March 13, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  23. ^ Teicher, Adam (January 20, 2022). "Kansas City Chiefs' Willie Gay arrested on misdemeanor criminal property damage charge". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
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