Raiders' Nassib becomes 1st active NFL player to come out as gay
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib has become the first active NFL player to reveal he's gay, disclosing his sexual orientation Monday in a video posted to Instagram.
Nassib said he's donating $100,000 to The Trevor Project, an American non-profit organization that provides crisis intervention and aims to prevent suicide within the LGBTQ youth community.
The 28-year-old made his announcement during Pride Month, which goes through the end of June.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell voiced his encouragement for Nassib via a statement shortly after the announcement.
From @nflcommish pic.twitter.com/xYRCYsPXZz
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) June 21, 2021
Nassib is entering his second season with the Raiders after spending his first two campaigns with the Cleveland Browns and the next two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's logged 20.5 career sacks, including 2.5 for Las Vegas in 2020.
Michael Sam became the first publicly gay player to be drafted into the NFL in 2014, but the former Missouri defender didn't play a regular-season game in the league.