Another member of the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary that helped the team win its last Super Bowl has earned a job as an assistant NFL coach. ESPN’s John Keim reported on February 15 that the Washington Commanders have hired William Gay as their assistant defensive backs coach.
Gay will be one of two former Steelers defensive backs on Washington’s new coaching staff. Jason Simmons, who was a reserve defensive back for Pittsburgh from 1998-2001, will be the team’s defensive pass game coordinator.
Gay played for the Steelers from 2007-11 and then again from 2013-17. He started four games in 2008 when the Steelers had the No. 1 defense and went 12-4 on their way to a then unprecedented sixth Super Bowl title.
William Gay Gets First Full-Time NFL Coaching Chance as Commanders Assistant
After the Steelers elected not to bring back Gay following the 2017 season, the cornerback attended training camp with the New York Giants. But he didn’t make the team following the preseason and never played in the NFL again.
Gay served as a coaching intern for the Steelers in 2019. But then after coaching defensive backs at Missouri State during the 2020 season, Gay fell out of coaching until 2023.
Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders reported that Gay was a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship hire for the Dallas Cowboys last year. With the Cowboys, he worked under new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.
In Dallas, Quinn was defensive coordinator while Whitt was secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator.
The Steelers drafted Gay in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He made the team as a rookie, playing in all 16 games during 2007. In 2008, he recorded 41 combined tackles, including 2 tackles for loss, 7 pass defenses and 1 interception for the league’s No. 1 defense.
From 2009-15, Gay started at least 11 games in every season but one. He played in Pittsburgh every season as well except 2012. Gay spent that campaign with the Arizona Cardinals.
In 160 games with the Steelers, Gay made 86 starts. He recorded 81 pass defenses and 11 interceptions, 5 of which he returned for a touchdown. Gay led the NFL with 3 pick-sixes during the 2014 season.
He also had 520 combined tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 6 sacks during his Steelers career.
Commanders Also Hire Jason Simmons
Gay won’t be the only former Steelers defensive back on Washington’s new coaching staff. Simmons was also a fifth-round pick for the Steelers nine years before Gay in the 1998 NFL draft.
Simmons never started a game, but he appeared in 49 contests for Pittsburgh. He recorded 72 combined tackles, 3 forced fumbles and 2 pass defenses.
In 2001, when the Steelers had the No. 1 defense, Simmons posted 20 combined tackles and 1 pass defense.
Simmons played the final six seasons of his NFL career with the Houston Texans. He has been an NFL assistant coach since 2011.
Deshea Townsend Lands Job With the Detroit Lions
Gay and Simmons joined Deshea Townsend as fellow former Steelers defensive backs with new coaching positions this offseason.
Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported on February 8 that Townsend will join the Detroit Lions defensive staff. Pro Football Talk reported Townsend will serve as the team’s defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
Townsend was Gay’s teammate when the Steelers won the Super Bowl during the 2008 season. Townsend was also on Pittsburgh’s 2005 championship roster.
Like Gay, Townsend played at least a decade in Pittsburgh and only one other season for another NFL team.
Townsend has been an assistant coach in the NFL and college since retiring following the 2010 season. Ironically, Townsend was one of Gay’s defensive back coaches in Arizona during the 2012 season.
Last year, Townsend was the passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Steelers Super Bowl Champion CB Lands First Full-Time NFL Coaching Role: Report