Willie Gay Jr., Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker

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AFC title game coming up on Sunday in Arrowhead between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals. And now joining us is a linebacker from the Kansas City Chiefs, and that, of course, is Willie Gay Jr. Willie, appreciate you coming back on the show. How you been? Good, man. Thank you for having me.

Well, thanks for coming on. So the big news headed into this game is going to be the health of your quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. We saw last week he sustained a high ankle sprain.

Just how do you kind of observe Patrick throughout the weekend? And what can you tell us how he's looking headed into this one? I'm not gonna speak on that, man.

I'm sorry I can't speak on that. Did it surprise you, though, last week when he came back? Oh, no, not at all. He's a fighter. I think a lot of people doubted the Chiefs going into this year after losing Tyreek Hill. What do you think you guys have proven so far this season with Mahomes having another MVP type of season and you guys 60 minutes away from a Super Bowl? Oh, man, that we are the same team. We lose a couple pieces, but we can make up for it with a multitude of other guys. We have offensive playmakers, defensive playmakers, and we proved that this year. We're playing an AFC Championship game, so we're ready to take our chance and get to the Super Bowl. Did you ever doubt this team headed into the season, or did you know that this team could get back to this spot? Come on, man.

What kind of question is that? Of course not. I gotta ask you because headed into this year there was a lot of noise about all these other teams in the AFC West, and it seems like people forgot about the Chiefs. Yeah, they better not forget about us. Where is this defense at headed into this game in your opinion? Oh, we ready. That's all I'm gonna say.

We ready. Their offensive line banged up. We know the Bills weren't able to capitalize. We know you guys had the second most sacks in the league. How do you kind of expose what those guys did last week up front of the offensive line?

We just do what we're supposed to do, man, and play hard, honestly, and give our all every play just to get to that quarterback each and every chance we get. Something I've observed with your team this year is Trent McDuffie, who's a rookie and has done a lot of good things for your team when he's out there on the field. What have you seen out of your teammate Trent McDuffie?

A lot of growth, man. Trent and all the other rookie corners as well, and the state rookie safeties. All the rookies, honestly, just a lot of growth from those guys. Like you say, man, Trent's the ball of himself.

So you get Trent, you get Jalen Watson, you get Joshua Williams in the back end, and Brian Cook, and whoever else. We got a lot of rookies that's ready to play whenever. How do you think you've grown as a player as well, your first three years in the league? Man, I've grown a lot, honestly. I'm still learning, and I feel like that's what comes with this game.

You can't not know enough, you know what I'm saying? You gotta keep learning, man, and keep building on your knowledge and your game so that you can take your game to the next level. And that's where I'm at right now, trying to take it to the next level and get me a Super Bowl. What type of player do you think you could turn into?

The best, honestly. I like that answer. Yes, sir. How far away do you think you are from that, just wondering?

Oh, I'm already there, man. I just gotta continue to prove it and continue to make plays and stay healthy. What's your work gone, by the way, the most this offseason, Willie Gay Jr.? Man, just really just my flexibility and continuing to use my speed to get to that ball, man.

That was my main focus. Do you think the defense in Kansas City gets the respect that they deserve? I mean, of course not, but we all know we don't, but I mean, we're playing an AFC Championship game, so we don't really care what outsiders think, you know? So we don't do what we're supposed to do to make sure our great quarterback, our great offense, scores more points than your team.

And that's why we're here today. What have you learned from your head coach so far, and Andy Reid? Man, he's a great coach, the best coach in the NFL, I think. Great player as coach.

He treats everyone the same. So there's been a lot of conversation headed into this game, Willie Gay Jr., and most of the times it goes right to the quarterback, Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes. What do you say to people that believe Joe Burrow's a better quarterback than Patrick Mahomes? Man, I mean, I've played against Joe. You know, he's a great quarterback, you know, but I've been with Pat three years, and he's also a great quarterback. So there's just two guys that's competing, trying to prove themselves in his league. Well, already proved themselves in his league, you know, and they're just a new generation of quarterbacks, man.

What's the toughest part when you prepare for a Joe Burrow? I mean, he's a quarterback, man, so he can pick you apart if you let him. You know, if you're not doing your job, you'll definitely find a weakness.

So that's any quarterback, honestly, but definitely, you know, a good one like Joe. So you gotta do your job, man. He will expose you. The Burrowhead comment by Mike Kelton, does that annoy you guys in that locker room? Not at all.

Nah, man. That's just, like I said earlier, that's what comes with the game. You know, that's what they're supposed to do. They're supposed to talk smack, you know? It seems like Chris Jones was annoyed about it, because he made it a point of emphasis in his press conference to keep on bringing up Burrowhead. So that hasn't really been talked about in the locker room? No, not at all, man.

I didn't even know Chris said anything. Okay. Well, I also saw a clip of you saying when you were asked, what impresses you about the Bengals? You said nothing. Why is that?

Why is it nothing? Well, I mean, what you want me to say, man, they got the best offense in the league. You know, like, I mean, they're a great team.

You know, I just, you know, people kind of blew it up. I understand that's what y'all do. You know, that's what y'all supposed to do, but I was not impressed by just anything specifically, you know?

So... I think a lot of people just see the comments, and you said earlier how much respect you have for Joe Burrow, but you just look at all the names they have on their offense. You thought you'd probably get a response on how good Joe Burrow was, right? And Jamar Chase and T. Higgins probably as well.

That's what probably people were looking for, I would imagine. Oh, I guess so, man. But, you know, like I say, I'm just ready to play this game. Of course, they're a great team. They wouldn't be here if they wasn't, you know, great players all over on both sides of the ball. So we're just ready to, you know, get on that field, man, and let the work do the talking. I know you don't need any extra motivation for an AFC title game, but the fact that they beat you the last three times, this one a little more extra personal?

No, man, we treat them all the same. We don't overdo it, overthink it, you know, steal a football game. There's a lot on the line, obviously, but, you know, when you go into games like this, you don't want to think too much on it, you know? Because that's when people get ahead of themselves, and the game gets away from you, and you get too emotional, and you lose it before you even start it, you know? So we don't think about it for real. You tell me, Willie Gay Jr., why this time will be different, unlike the way that it ended the last three times.

Oh, man, I can't tell you that. I just know we're going to go play and give our all and hope for the best, and I know we are well prepared on both sides of the ball. So we're ready. What do you kind of sense from your teammates leading up to this one this week? We're ready, man, is all I can say, honestly. Well, you got it. Well, we'll be watching. We're excited for this game. I do appreciate you carving out some time today, and good luck coming up on Sunday.

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