Four-year veteran linebacker Willie Gay signed a new contract with the New Orleans Saints. Gay, a two-time Super Bowl champion, spent the entirety of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The #Saints have agreed to terms with former #Chiefs LB Willie Gay to a one-year deal worth a max of $5 million, source says.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2024
Willie Gay, Saints, Agree to Contract
2023 marked yet another season of solid, reliable play from Willie Gay. Appearing in 16 games while making 15 starts for one of the NFL’s best defenses, the Mississippi State product finished the final year of his contract with one sack, one interception, 58 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, and three quarterback hits. After a relatively shaky regular season, the Chiefs found their form in the playoffs and ended up hoisting their second Lombardi Trophy in as many seasons.
Willie Gay originally entered the league as a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Selected by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Mississippi State product began his career as a rotational player on the defense. Appearing in all 16 games while making eight starts, Gay finished his inaugural season with 39 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, one quarterback hit, and one sack. The Chiefs made it all the way to the Super Bowl but ultimately fell short against Tom Brady’s Buccaneers.
Gay built upon his promising rookie season the earn a full-time starting job in 2021. Starting in 11 of the 12 games in which he appeared, the linebacker finished the season with two interceptions, 0.5 sacks, 48 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and one quarterback hit. Kansas City went on another deep playoff run, going to the AFC Championship Game before falling to the Cincinnati Bengals.
After two close calls, Willie Gay finally won his first Super Bowl in the third year of his contract. Starting and appearing in 13 games, the former second-round pick finished the year with one interception, one touchdown, 2.5 sacks, 88 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and four quarterback hits. Despite missing four games to injury, the tackles, sacks, tackles-for-loss, and quarterback hits were career highs.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
