KC Chiefs coach Andy Reid praises Willie Gay for publicizing mental health battle
After Chiefs second-year linebacker Willie Gay revealed last week he is struggling with his mental health, his head coach praised the courage it took to publicize it.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Gay has met with Dr. Shaun Tyrance, an in-house team clinician, to “address the problem.”
A turf toe injury held Gay out of competition the opening month, but two days before he made his season debut Sunday, he acknowledged another battle. In a social media post Friday, Gay said, “I love you all. Just know my mental health is F’d up.” He did not elaborate and has not yet been one of the players placed at the podium for a media press conference this week.
“I’m proud of him for mentioning it,” Reid said Wednesday. “A lot of people don’t mention it, (so) I think it’s a great tribute to the kid, bringing it forward.
“So many people keep this hidden, and then disastrous things happen. I’m just glad he came forward with it.”
Gay played 25 defensive snaps in Sunday night’s 38-20 loss to the Bills, his first action of the season. He made two tackles and played well when placed in coverage, a need for a struggling defense. He allowed just one completion, which gained only one yard.
Before the Chiefs activated him from injured reserve over the weekend, and after they cleared him to play from the turf toe injury, they analyzed his mental well-being, Reid said.
“We stay in touch with it, for sure — make sure he’s OK,” Reid said. “We try not to let any of that stuff slide the best way we can.”
In 2019, the NFL and NFLPA announced an agreement that every team would have a team clinician on its staff. The Chiefs were the second organization to oblige, hiring Tyrance that summer.
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 1:01 PM.