Gay played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions (1978–1987) and the Minnesota Vikings (1988).

Gay was selected in the second round of the 1978 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos.

[citation needed] Gay played college football at the University of Southern California.

The Lions obtained him on August 14 of that year, in exchange for defensive back Charlie West and a 1979 sixth-round pick.

[4] During the 1979 and 1980 seasons, Gay teamed with Al "Bubba" Baker, Doug English, Dave Pureifory, and John Woodcock to form the core of the Lions’ "Silver Rush" defensive line.