Michael Sam, President Biden among figures to show support for Carl Nassib
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib became the first openly gay active NFL player on Monday. Nassib also announced a $100,000 donation to The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization that aims to prevent suicide within the LGBTQ community.
Nassib's announcement quickly went viral on social media, receiving support from some of the NFL's biggest stars.
Michael Sam, the first publicly gay player drafted by an NFL team, thanked Nassib for his courage.
Carl Nassib thank you for owning your truth and especially your donation to the @TrevorProject. LBGTQ people are more likely to commit suicide than heterosexuals. I hope and pray people will take note to this. Thank you again Carl and look forward to seeing you play on the field.
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSam52) June 22, 2021
The then-St. Louis Rams took Sam, who last played in the Canadian Football League in 2015, during the seventh round in 2014. The former Missouri defensive end didn't appear in an NFL regular-season game.
U.S. President Joe Biden also offered his support to Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama, a Japanese soccer player who recently came out as a transgender man.
To Carl Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama – two prominent, inspiring athletes who came out this week: I’m so proud of your courage. Because of you, countless kids around the world are seeing themselves in a new light today.
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 23, 2021
Several active NFL players and teams joined in the outpouring of support for Nassib:
Good for you Carl.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) June 22, 2021
Glad you feel comfortable enough to share and hopefully someday these types of announcements will no longer be considered breaking news. https://t.co/eevr8cgRay
Awesome moment. Spreading the love to the @TrevorProject very classy move. ❤️ https://t.co/pOWGsvRMUW
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) June 21, 2021
The NFL community voiced its support for Raiders DE Carl Nassib after he came out as gay 🙌 pic.twitter.com/w0ZLqsiizZ
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) June 21, 2021
Proud of you bro!!! https://t.co/F6ICTbgjcQ
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) June 22, 2021
some things are bigger than a rivalry 💙 https://t.co/cO8rHtVxip
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) June 21, 2021
Much love and respect.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 22, 2021
You’ve got our full support, Carl. 🧡 https://t.co/2bpX0x7vxQ
You can be that person.
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) June 22, 2021
We're proud of you, Carl ♥️ https://t.co/C7hPYhRSjM
Raiders owner Mark Davis and head coach Jon Gruden also spoke about Nassib's announcement soon after it became public.
#Raiders coach Jon Gruden, in response to DE Carl Nassib coming out as gay: “I learned a long time ago what makes a man different is what makes him great.”
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) June 21, 2021
Just spoke to #Raiders owner Mark Davis, who said of Carl Nassib coming out as gay. "It's 2021," Davis said. “All the more power to Carl. It doesn’t change my opinion of him as a person or as a Raider.”
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) June 21, 2021