Energetic ex-Steelers DB William Gay standing out as coaching intern — for offense

The call came out during a training camp practices earlier this month from a fan lining the practice field at Saint Vincent.

“Big play Willie Gay!”

While standing along the sidelines of Chuck Noll Field, William Gay briefly turned around and said, “Naw, Coach William.”

After 12 training camps as a player, Gay’s transition from “big play Willie Gay” to “Coach William” is complete. At age 34, and a year and a half removed from his final meaningful game as a reliable, cerebral cornerback, Gay was hired by the Steelers in June as a coaching intern.

“He’s out here giving back his wisdom that he learned throughout his time in the league playing football,” said Artie Burns, his teammate in the Steelers secondary for three seasons. “It’s good seeing him out here. He always was that type of guy, giving out knowledge and stuff like that.”

Part of Mike Tomlin’s first draft class as a fifth-rounder in 2007, Gay played 10 of his 11 NFL seasons with the Steelers before finished his career during last year’s training camp with the New York Giants.

Counting his one season (2012) with the Arizona Cardinals, Gay played in all 176 regular-season games of his career, never missing a week. That was longest streak in the NFL among defensive players when it was snapped in Week 1 last year.

He has played more games under Tomlin (175, including playoffs) than any defensive player, second only to Ben Roethlisberger overall. By the end of his career, teammates — even veteran teammates, such as Joe Haden — were affectionately calling him, “Coach.”

So combining his durability and longevity, respect among his teammates and history with Tomlin, it should come as no surprise Gay joined the Steelers coaching staff.

“To go from playing to being a coach for the team that he played with his whole career, that’s cool to see,” said receiver Eli Rogers, Gay’s teammate for three seasons. “I try to take in everything that I can as far as his knowledge of the game and his awareness of what he knows as far as the defensive perspective.”

It was his demeanor on the practice field that made him arguably the most noticeable individual over the three weeks of open practices.

Still looking as if he’s in game shape, Gay sprints after players who “score” or catch deep passes during practice reps, celebrating with them while barking words of encouragement.

“He’s running around all over the place,” cornerback Brian Allen said, “and as a player he was the same way. I think that’s what you need to be a coach. You’ve got to have energy. You’ve got to be energetic with your players. He’s definitely got the tools to do that.”

The Steelers have denied requests from media to speak with Gay. But in the days before what would be his final meaningful NFL game (the January 2018 playoff game against Jacksonville), Gay opened up to the Tribune-Review about a desire to coach.

“And not only coach, I want to climb that ladder,” Gay said. “I just don’t want to say I’m a position coach. I want to be defensive coordinator. I want to be a head coach.”

Veteran Steelers DB William Gay imparts wisdom to teammates, eyes coaching career https://t.co/YMduvOozi4

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) January 13, 2018

He probably couldn’t have predicted his first foray into the profession would be coaching offense (particularly, wide receivers). Tomlin said that was by design; the other intern this season, former Steelers fullback/tight end David Johnson, is working with the defense.

“To get them out of their comfort zones, to really get them to respect the vocation that is coaching and to make them aware of a lot of things going on around them in terms of opportunities to learn,” Tomlin said.

The learning is a two-way street when a former player’s side-of-the-ball coaching emphasis is flipped.

“Having a guy like Will being in our room, you can pick his brain about defense,” veteran receiver Donte Moncrief said. “He teaches you a lot of things and tells you a lot of things like about what defensive backs fear and what keeps them comfortable.”

Allen said Gay still makes his way into the DB meeting room, critiquing a play or sequence by a cornerback or safety during the previous practice.

“ ‘You could do this better, you could do this better,’ ” Allen said, relaying what Gay offers. “‘Even though I am working with the offense, this is what the offense is looking for.’”

Gay played every position in the secondary with the Steelers, his role morphing from nickel/slot to outside corner to dime DB and even some reps at safety. He still has relationships on the defense, of course, leading to some lighthearted moments regarding his change of allegiance.

“On the field, he’s talking crap to the DBs all the time,” Allen said, with a chuckle, “but off the field he wants to be our friend. So we give him crap about it all the time, too.

“But he’s a great guy, a great teacher and a great coach. And for sure, you can see him working his way up the ranks. He can definitely be a good (head) coach someday.”

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