DE Nassib announces he is gay on Instagram
He becomes the first active NFL player to publicly come out
Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib used his Instagram account Monday to announce that he was gay, becoming the first NFL player to come out while still active in the league.
“What’s up people?” Nassib posted. “I’m at my house here in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I just want to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. 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 could ask for.
“I’m a pretty private person, so I hope you guys know that I’m really not doing this for the attention. I just think that representation and visibility are so important.”
Nassib, 28, is entering his sixth season in the NFL. He was drafted by Cleveland in 2016 and spent two seasons with the Browns before he was waived in Sept. 2018. Nassib was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay and played for two years with the Buccaneers. In March 2020, he signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Raiders.
Nassib smiled and appeared comfortable as he spoke. In a message accompanying the video, Nassib wrote, “Sadly, I have agonized over this moment for the last 15 years. Only until recently, thanks to my family and friends … did it seem possible for me to say publicly and proudly that I’m gay.”
Nassib added he was thankful for the “NFL, my coaches, and fellow players for their support. I would not have been able to do this without them. From the jump, I was greeted with the utmost respect and acceptance.”
The Raiders tweeted out Nassib’s written message on social media, adding, “Proudofyou,Carl.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also applauded Nassib’s decision.
“The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today,” Goodell said in a statement. “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. We wish Carl the best of luck this coming season.”
“I actually hope that one day, videos like this and the whole coming out process are just not necessary,” Nassib said. “But until then,
I’m going do my best and do my part to cultivate a culture that’s accepting, that’s compassionate.”
In 1975, former 49ers running back Dave Kopay was the first professional team sport athlete to come out as gay, three years after his career ended. Kopay spent training camp with the Oakland Raiders in 1972 before he was cut. He soon retired.
In 2014, Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team. Sam was taken in the seventh round by the then-St. Louis Rams and played in the preseason but was cut at the end of training camp.
Sam played in a CFL regular-season game in 2015, becoming the first openly gay player to do so, but retired that year for mental health reasons.
According to outsports. com, there have been 15 players in the NFL’s 100year history that have come out as either gay or bisexual.
Nassib announced that he was donating $100,000 to The Trevor Project, which he described as the number one suicide prevention service for LGBTQ youth in the U.S.
“They’re truly doing incredible things, and I’m very excited to be a part of it to help in any way that I can,” Nassib said. “I’m really pumped to see what the future holds.
“That’s all I have for you guys. Hope you have a great day.”