NFL CAREER – A solid contributor on defense with big play ability, Willie Gay Jr. joined the Saints at the start of the free agency period. Gay spent his first four NFL seasons in Kansas City after being selected by the Chiefs out of Mississippi State in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. The Starkville, Miss. native has played in 57 regular season games with 47 starts, posting 231 tackles (148 solo), five sacks, four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 19 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two special teams stops. In nine postseason appearances/starts, including two Super Bowl victories, Gay recorded 29 tackles (18 solo), a split-sack, three passes defensed and one forced fumble. His combination of sideline-to-sideline speed, pursuit ability and versatility to play multiple positions put him in position to compete for a starting position in New Orleans' defense in 2024.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms with Saints on a one-year contract (UFA-KC), 3/13/24; Activated by Kansas City from Reserve/COVID-19, 12/22/21; Placed by Kansas City on Reserve/COVID-10, 12/15/21; Activated by Kansas City from Injured Reserve, 10/9/21; Placed by Kansas City on Injured Reserve, 9/2/21; Placed by Kansas City on Injured Reserve, 2/6/21; Signed by Kansas City to a four-year contract, 7/25/20; Selected in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft by Kansas City.
2023 – Played in 16 regular season games with 15 starts (did not start on Nov. 5, vs. Miami) in his final season in Kansas City, recording 58 tackles (44 solo), one sack, one interception, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and a club-best and career-high three fumble recoveries, tied for third in the NFL. Opened all three postseason contests he played in and recorded nine tackles (five solo) and one pass defense…Recorded two tackles (one solo) and one fumble recovery vs. Chicago, Sept. 24…Finished with six tackles (five solo), one pass defense and a one-yard fumble recovery/return vs. Denver, Oct. 12…Recorded five tackles (three solo), one sack/stop for loss and a pass defense vs. L.A. Chargers, Oct. 22…Finished with three tackles (two solo) and his third fumble recovery of the season, at Denver, Oct. 29…Finished with four solo tackles, including a stop for loss and a forced fumble vs. Miami, Nov. 5…Had two solo tackles and a pass defense in AFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Miami, 1/13/24…In Super Bowl LVIII victory over San Francisco, 2/11/24, finished game with four tackles (three solo). 2022 – Started all 13 regular season games he appeared in for Kansas City and posted career-high 88 tackles (51 solo), 2.5 sacks, a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown, eight passes defensed and one fumble recovery. In three postseason starts for the Super Bowl champions, recorded nine tackles and a split sack…Vs. L.A. Chargers, Sept. 15, established career-high with 11 tackles (six solo) and two passes defensed...Vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 13, sacked Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence for a loss of eight yards and contributed eight tackles (six solo) and one pass defense…At L.A. Chargers, Nov. 20, tied career-high with 11 tackles (seven solo) and one sack…Scored his first defensive touchdown at Denver, Dec. 11, on a 47-yard interception…Vs. Houston, Dec. 18, had six tackles (four solo) and recovered a fumble…Recorded eight tackles (six solo) in Super Bowl LVII win over Philadelphia, 2/12/23. 2021- Played in 12 games with 11 starts (did not start, Oct. 10, vs. Buffalo) for Kansas City. Posted 48 tackles (26 solo), a split sack, two interceptions and four passes defensed. Started all three postseason contests and made 11 tackles (seven solo), two passes defensed and one forced fumble…After spending the first four contests on Injured Reserve (toe), returned to action vs. Buffalo, Oct. 10 and recorded two solo tackles…Returned to starting lineup following week at Washington, Oct. 17, and finished with one solo tackle…Vs. Tennessee, Oct. 24, recorded two solo tackles and intercepted Titans QB Ryan Tannehill…Picked off QB Daniel Jones for a 13-yard return and added a season-high nine tackles (five solo), vs. N.Y. Giants, Nov. 1…In AFC Wild Card Playoff victory vs. Pittsburgh, 1/16/22, had two solo tackles and one forced fumble…In AFC Championship game loss vs. Cincinnati, 1/30/22, recorded five tackles (three solo) and two passes defensed. 2020 – Played in all 16 games in his rookie season for Kansas City, starting eight contests and posting 37 tackles (27 solo), one sack for a one-yard loss, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and two special teams tackles…In his NFL debut vs. Houston, Sept. 10, recorded one special teams tackle…Made his first NFL start vs. New England, Oct. 5, recorded two tackles (one solo)…Had first career sack to go with six tackles (five solo), vs. Las Vegas, Oct. 11, in his second consecutive start…Started at Denver, Oct. 25, recorded four tackles (three solo) and two passes defensed…Started vs. Atlanta, Dec. 27, and had a season-high nine and team-high nine tackles (seven solo) and his first career forced fumble.
COLLEGE – Appeared in 31 games with six starts at Mississippi State, tallying 99 career tackles (46 solo), 11.0 stops for loss, six sacks, three interceptions, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Recorded either an interception, forced fumble or fumble recovery in seven of his last nine games played…During his junior season, finished with 28 tackles and 3.5 stops for loss. Forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown…As a sophomore, appeared in all 13 games and earned six starts, set a career-high with 48 tackles, sixth on team and added 5.5 stops for loss and five sacks, career-highs in both…Appeared in all 13 contests as a true freshman, seeing playing time on special teams and as a backup linebacker.
PERSONAL – A local product out of Starkville (Miss.) HS, who helped lead the Yellowjackets to the 2015 Class 6A state title...Collected 83 tackles, including nine stops for loss as a senior…As a junior in 2015, earned second-team All-State honors after tallying 84 tackles, 17 stops for loss, nine passes defensed, six sacks, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. Also played quarterback at times, including rushing for 325 yards and five scores in a win over Warren Central in October, becoming the first Starkville player to rush for over 300 yards in a game since 1994…2016 Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen and one of 15 semifinalists for the high school Butkus Award…Invited to and played in the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl for the East squad…On March 28, his hometown honored him on the Mississippi State campus with a "Willie Gay Day" celebration…Held his first annual youth football camp in Starkville in June.
