Re-casting Ted Lasso characters with Kansas City Chiefs
By Matt Conner
![WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 15: (L-R) Hannah Waddingham, Jason Sudeikis, and Juno Temple attend Apple's "Ted Lasso" season two premiere at Pacific Design Center on July 15, 2021 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 15: (L-R) Hannah Waddingham, Jason Sudeikis, and Juno Temple attend Apple's "Ted Lasso" season two premiere at Pacific Design Center on July 15, 2021 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/3a4de0e1f32ecec262612cb12b1207e3daf42e5acb31b10c50fc92303f2c7b41.jpg)
Willie Gay Jr. as Sam Obisanya
One of the better role players in the Ted Lasso cast is Sam Obisanya, a young Nigerian defender who is the subject of earlier episodes in season one as someone who needs to turn the corner both personally and professionally. Sam struggles with being away from home in the U.K. and it’s affecting his God-gifted skill set that should allow him to excel in the EPL.
When it comes to the Chiefs, the youngest defender with the most upside in terms of raw athleticism might be linebacker Willie Gay Jr. He has yet to put it all together on the field, but everyone knew that Gay’s first season in the NFL was going to be a developmental one. Gay has sideline-to-sideline speed and the sort of instincts that should allow him to be a complete player against the run and in coverage.
At this point, Chiefs fans can only hope that Chiefs coaches can work their magic and help transform Gay into the sort of on-field performer that Ted Lasso and Coach Beard were able to get from Sam.