Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Malvern Prep grad is first openly gay player
WEST CHESTER’S NASSIB, A MALVERN PREP AND PENN STATE ALUM, SAYS HE’S GAY
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib, a native of West Chester and Malvern Prep graduate, Monday became the first active NFL player to come out as gay.
Nassib, who is entering his sixth NFL season out of Penn State, and second season with the Raiders, announced the news on Instagram, saying he wasn’t doing it for the attention but because he felt representation and visibility were important.
“I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay,” Nassib said in the video message from his home in West Chester. “I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest.
“I really have the best life. I’ve got the best family, friends and job a guy can ask for. I’m a pretty private person, so I hope you guys know that I’m really not doing this for attention. I just think that representation and visibility are so important.”
Nassib, 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, starred for both the football and basketball teams at Malvern. He was a walk-on as a freshman at Penn State in 2011, and started for the first time as a senior in 2015, recording 10 sacks in his first six games.
He went on to be a thirdround draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2016, and played two years for both the Browns and Tampa Bay Bucs before joining the Raiders in 2020. He has 20½ sacks in 73 career games.
Nassib added in a written message that followed the video that he “agonized over this moment for the last 15 years” and only recently decided to go public with his sexuality after receiving the support of family and friends.
Nassib comes from a family of five children, including older brother Ryan, a standout quarterback at Syracuse who has played for three NFL teams and is currently a free agent.
“I am also incredibly thankful for the NFL, my coaches, and fellow players for their support,” Nassib wrote. “I would not have been able to do this without them. From the jump I was greeted with the utmost respect and acceptance.”
Nassib, whose announcement came during Pride Month, added that he was donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project, a nonprofit that seeks to prevent suicides among LGBTQ youth.
In a statement released Monday night, Penn State coach James Franklin said he was “very proud of Carl for his courage and voice.
“This announcement doesn’t surprise me because if you know Carl, you know his strength,” Franklin’s statement read. “Carl’s story continues to add chapters which will have an impact well beyond the field of play. His care and love for those around him, particularly those in need, has always been obvious. His generosity and advocacy for The Trevor Project is yet another shining example of his huge heart. He has inspired Fumi and I to donate $10,000 to The Trevor Project, as well.
“Carl’s brave announcement will forge a path for others to be true to their authentic self. I was proud of Carl when he led the nation in sacks, but I’m even more proud of him now.”
Added NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: “The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today. Representation matters. We share his hope that someday soon statements like his will no longer be newsworthy as we march toward full equality for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Nassib’s announcement also was greeted by Brian Burke, president of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. Burke has been a major proponent of LGBTQ rights for more than a decade since his late son Brendan came out as gay.
“Proud to support Carl and his decision to come out as the first active gay player in the NFL,” Burke said. “I hope other sports executives will join me in publicly expressing their support as well.”
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, a leading LGBTQ advocacy organization, called Nassib’s “powerful coming out is a historic reflection of the growing state of LGBTQ visibility and inclusion in the world of professional sports, which has been driven by a long list of brave LGBTQ athletes who came before him.”
Ellis said Nassib’s story “will not only have a profound impact on the future of LGBTQ visibility and acceptance in sports, but sends a strong message to so many LGBTQ people, especially youth, that they, too, can one day grow up to be and succeed as a professional athlete like him.”
More than a dozen NFL players have come out as gay after their careers were over.