Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end Carl Nassib said on Monday he was gay, making him the first active National Football League player to come out publicly.
“I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay,” Nassib, 28, said in a video he posted to Instagram. “I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest,” he said. His announcement, which comes during Pride month, was greeted with support from the league and his team, which praised his courage.
Carl Paul Nassib is an American football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League. He played college football at Penn State and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After Nassib’s video made headlines on Monday, June 21, 2021. the player took to social media again to express his “gratitude and relief.”
“Sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years,” he said before thanking the league, his coaches and fellow players for their support.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he too hoped that one day, players saying they were gay would no longer be newsworthy.
“The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today,” Goodell said in a statement.
While Nassib is first active player in the NFL to come out as gay, he is not the first gay NFL player. In 2014, Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted by the NFL, but was cut by the St. Louis Rams before he ever played a regular season game. Multiple players have also come out after retiring from the league.
Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end Carl Nassib said on Monday he was gay, making him the first active National Football League player to come out publicly.
“I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay,” Nassib, 28, said in a video he posted to Instagram. “I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest,” he said. His announcement, which comes during Pride month, was greeted with support from the league and his team, which praised his courage.
Carl Paul Nassib is an American football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League. He played college football at Penn State and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After Nassib’s video made headlines on Monday, June 21, 2021. the player took to social media again to express his “gratitude and relief.”
“Sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years,” he said before thanking the league, his coaches and fellow players for their support.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he too hoped that one day, players saying they were gay would no longer be newsworthy.
“The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today,” Goodell said in a statement.
While Nassib is first active player in the NFL to come out as gay, he is not the first gay NFL player. In 2014, Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted by the NFL, but was cut by the St. Louis Rams before he ever played a regular season game. Multiple players have also come out after retiring from the league.
Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end Carl Nassib said on Monday he was gay, making him the first active National Football League player to come out publicly.
“I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay,” Nassib, 28, said in a video he posted to Instagram. “I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest,” he said. His announcement, which comes during Pride month, was greeted with support from the league and his team, which praised his courage.
Carl Paul Nassib is an American football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League. He played college football at Penn State and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After Nassib’s video made headlines on Monday, June 21, 2021. the player took to social media again to express his “gratitude and relief.”
“Sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years,” he said before thanking the league, his coaches and fellow players for their support.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he too hoped that one day, players saying they were gay would no longer be newsworthy.
“The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today,” Goodell said in a statement.
While Nassib is first active player in the NFL to come out as gay, he is not the first gay NFL player. In 2014, Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted by the NFL, but was cut by the St. Louis Rams before he ever played a regular season game. Multiple players have also come out after retiring from the league.
Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end Carl Nassib said on Monday he was gay, making him the first active National Football League player to come out publicly.
“I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay,” Nassib, 28, said in a video he posted to Instagram. “I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest,” he said. His announcement, which comes during Pride month, was greeted with support from the league and his team, which praised his courage.
Carl Paul Nassib is an American football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League. He played college football at Penn State and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After Nassib’s video made headlines on Monday, June 21, 2021. the player took to social media again to express his “gratitude and relief.”
“Sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years,” he said before thanking the league, his coaches and fellow players for their support.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he too hoped that one day, players saying they were gay would no longer be newsworthy.
“The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today,” Goodell said in a statement.
While Nassib is first active player in the NFL to come out as gay, he is not the first gay NFL player. In 2014, Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted by the NFL, but was cut by the St. Louis Rams before he ever played a regular season game. Multiple players have also come out after retiring from the league.
