Tayvon Gray had a direct hand in New York City FC goals in three straight matches to open the 2026 season.
He made the line-breaking pass to Nico Fernández Mercau that led LA Galaxy defender Carlos Emiro Garcés to concede a penalty and earn a second yellow card. The following week, Gray scored the winner in stoppage time in Philadelphia, then on Matchday 3, he assisted on the Keaton Parks goal that made it a 4-0 lead over Orlando in the laugher of a home-opener victory.
Gray did not enter the season as the likeliest source of goal contributions, mainly because of a 2025 season in which he recorded zero goals or zero assists – and the zero assists are inclusive of the generous Major League Soccer system, which rewards players for "secondary" assists when they play the successful pass before the actual assist.
Gray had seven assists and scored once in a 2024 season that was considered his attacking breakout, so it was a legitimate surprise to see the goal contributions dry up entirely last season. Even though they did, Gray still produced a strong all-around season in 2025, his first year playing under Pascal Jansen.
Now, while extremely early in 2026, Gray is showing signs of getting back to his 2024 level of attacking contribution. Through three matches, he's touching the ball more, his passing has been sharper and more progressive, and he's continued to make defensive contributions at a high level while part of a backline that's conceded one goal from open play through 270 minutes of the season.
