Willie Gay

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

This article is about the American football linebacker. For the former American football cornerback, see William Gay (cornerback). For the baseball player, see Willie Gay (baseball).

Willie Gay Jr.
refer to caption
Gay with Mississippi State in 2019
No. 50 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1998-02-15) February 15, 1998
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 15, 2022
Tackles:154
Sacks:4.0
Interceptions:3
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

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 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
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench 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)		4.46 s1.55 s2.60 s4.30 s7.08 s39.5 in
(1.00 m)		11 ft 4 in
(3.45 m)		21 reps
All values from NFL Combine[11][12]

2020 season

Gay was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round with the 63rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.[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]

2021 season

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

2022 season

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]

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.[20]

References
  1. Horka, Tyler. "5 things to know about former Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay Jr". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  2. "Dandy Dozen LB Gay Play Army All-American Bowl". The Clarion Ledger.
  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. "Starkville High's Gay picks MSU over Ole Miss". The Commercial Dispatch. February 2, 2017. 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. "Chiefs put Willie Gay on injured reserve". NBCSports.com. September 2, 2021.
  17. "KC Chiefs activate Willie Gay Jr. from injury list. He's questionable Sunday vs. Bills". KansasCity.com.
  18. Gordon, Grant (September 19, 2022). "Chiefs LB Willie Gay suspended four games for violating NFL personal conduct policy". NFL.com.
  19. "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  20. "Kansas City Chiefs' Willie Gay arrested on misdemeanor criminal property damage charge". ESPN.com. January 20, 2022.
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