The Dolphins just saw K.J. Britt agree to terms with the Patriots, but another of their role players on defense is staying. Veteran linebacker Willie Gay is coming back to Miami on a one-year deal, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson tweets.
Formerly the Chiefs’ top Nick Bolton sidekick, Gay never signed a second Kansas City contract. The Chiefs ended up preferring Drue Tranquill, re-signing him in 2024 and letting Gay walk. Gay joined the Saints that year and played last season with the Dolphins. Today marks his third straight one-year contract.
Miami had Gay on a one-year, $1.34MM deal in 2025. That represented a pay cut from his Saints rate ($3MM); it is safe to say Gay’s stock has dropped from when he was a three-time Chiefs Super Bowl starter.
Although Gay played 17 Dolphins games last season, he only started two. This came after 47 Chiefs starting assignments and eight with the Saints. Gay, 28, played just 12% of Miami’s defensive snaps in 2025.
Jordyn Brooks resides as the Dolphins’ linebacking centerpiece, and Tyrel Dodson is also under contract. A former first-round pick, Brooks is entering the final season of his three-year, $26.25MM contract. As I discussed in PFR’s Dolphins Offseason Outlook, the prolific tackler should be an extension candidate. But the Dolphins have hired new decision-makers, clouding that matter to a degree. But Jeff Hafley will use Gay as a defender/depth piece next season.
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