The Dolphins beefed up the linebacker room by adding Willie Gay Jr. to the mix. The former second-round pick out of Mississippi State comes equipped with premier athleticism, championship pedigree and a love of the game that can be infectious among his teammates.
Other-worldly athlete
When did Willie Gay Jr. know he was different from an athletic perspective?
"It was the third grade," he said on Drive Time with Travis Wingfield. "I knew either I was really fast, or everybody else was really slow."
Turns out, it was the former. Gay posted one of the best comprehensive NFL Scouting Combine performances ever. Among linebackers, his 11-4 broad jump was in the 99.9 percentile all-time. He was in the 99th percentile with a 39.5-inch vertical jump. He did that with a 4.46 40-yard dash time (ranking in the 99th percentile) and weighing 245 pounds – good for the 80th percentile.
This was five years ago, but Gay's tape is full of explosive plays, big hits, timely blitzes and a tone-setting brand of football that is evident by his production.
Splash playmaker
Counting stats for a defender can sometimes be an incomplete measure of a player. Throughout a 60-play game, the opportunity for a game-changing rep might come only once or twice, but Gay has a penchant for making the most of big moments.
Five years into his career, Gay has four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 22 passes defensed, seven sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 19 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and six recoveries.
Championship DNA
Drafted by the Chiefs in 2020, Gay has experience playing in many important football games. He's been to three Super Bowls, winning two of them. He's played in nine playoff games, registering a sack, a forced fumble, 29 total tackles, four for a loss and two quarterback hits.
For more information on Gay and the entire Dolphins 2025 free agency class, download the Drive Time Podcast with Travis Wingfield, available wherever you get your podcasts.
