NASHVILLE, TN – Joe Willis hadn't played a match in 322 days. You wouldn't have been able to tell by watching.
Playing his first competitive minutes since November 8, 2025, the 16-year MLS veteran kept his 62nd clean sheet in a Nashville SC shirt in a 2-0 win over Toronto FC, and the 97th of his professional career.
"It was awesome. I had some nerves at the beginning, and that went away pretty quickly," Willis said afterwards. "I've done this a bunch of times before. Once the game started and I got my first touch on the ball, it just all came back to me and felt like a kid again."
With Brian Schwake called up to the United States National Team for the first time in his career, Willis returned to the starting goalkeeper spot, a role he had played 204 times before. Nashville didn't miss a beat, with Willis making three saves in the club's 18th clean sheet of the season.
"Whether I'm the starter or not, if my number's called, then I have standards and expectations that I put on myself," he said. "That's to perform at a high level and to do whatever I can to contribute to the team's success."
Head coach BJ Callaghan wasn't surprised.
"We've seen Joe play really well. He's had a really long, great career," he said. "But if you get to see him, how he works every single day, the contributions he makes, the mentorship that he gives to the players, the team camaraderie that he builds, and the way he leads selflessly... I hate to say it, but we expect that from him.
"We see the work that he puts in each and every day, whether he's playing or he's not playing. He trains and prepares like he's gonna be a starter... Tonight is a great example of the way he goes about his business. I hope other people see that the work that he puts in allows you to do that when your moment's called."
Like riding a bike 🚲 pic.twitter.com/T5KfB7vIc9
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) September 27, 2026
A special team to be a part of
With seven matches left to play, Nashville have a 14-point lead in the Eastern Conference, and a 10-point lead over Vancouver Whitecaps in the Supporters' Shield race. After winning the US Open Cup in 2025, the first trophy in club history, they've taken a marked step forward in 2026.
"It's been a really special team to be a part of," Willis smiled. "It's unlike any locker room I've ever been in throughout my career. I think the personalities that we have, the on-field technical ability and quality of the players, is top. The way guys are committed to the system and the process, everything is there for a recipe for success."
Despite the sizeable lead, Nashville know they haven't won anything yet. Nothing is guaranteed, and Willis says that makes the team even more hungry.
"Every game, we're getting closer to the end, and we can start to smell some success and taste some success. It's instigating even more hunger for it."
Like riding a bike 🚲 pic.twitter.com/T5KfB7vIc9
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) September 27, 2026
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