The Miami Dolphins have added a two-time Super Bowl champion to their linebacker room.
Willie Gay Jr. will sign a one-year contract with the Dolphins, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported late Wednesday afternoon. The terms of Gay’s deal are unclear.
A 2020 second-round pick, Gay joins the Dolphins after he spent the 2024 season with the New Orleans Saints and his first four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. Gay has started 55 of a possible 72 games. With the Chiefs, he was a key part of their three consecutive title appearances as he started all nine of Kansas City’s playoff games during that span including the back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 2022 and 2023.
In 2022, Gay received a four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The suspension was due to Gay’s arrest on the misdemeanor charge of criminal damage. Although Gay pleaded not guilty and eventually reached a plea deal that included his participation in a diversion program, he was initially accused of property damage following an argument with the mother of his son, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Gay notched more than 230 combined tackles, five sacks and four interceptions with the Chiefs.
Despite his success with the Chiefs, he opted to sign a one-year, $3 million deal with the Saints in the 2024 offseason. In New Orleans, he started only eight of a potential 15 games, the least since his rookie year. He finished the 2024 season with 28 combined tackles, two fumble recoveries and two sacks.
Gay could likely look to compete for the starting inside linebacker position alongside Jordyn Brooks. He will have to beat out Tyrel Dodson, who also reportedly signed a two-year contract to return to the Dolphins. Dodson started three games with the Dolphins in 2024 and was even awarded an AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Cleveland Browns.
Despite his time as an inside linebacker during his time in Kansas City, he played on the outside with the Saints.
This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 5:11 PM.