Carl Nassib, a defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders who was an All-American at Penn State, just became the first active NFL player to come out as gay. Welcome to the family.
Nassib came out in a personal Instagram post on Monday, saying he has “agonized over this moment for the last 15 years.”
“I just want to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay,” Nassib said in an Instagram video he posted on his verified Instagram account. “I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest.”
The 28-year-old added: “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 I’m not doing this for attention, but I think representation matters.”
He is also is donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project, a nonprofit that aims to prevent suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth.
“I stand on the shoulders of giants, incredible people who paved the way for me to have this opportunity,” Nassib wrote in his post.
He also announced that he is donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization that focuses on suicide prevention programs for LGBT youth.
“For someone like me, who’s been so lucky and cherished every day, it brings me incredible sadness to think that our LGBTQ youth are at such an elevated risk for suicide,” Nassib wrote.
He signed off, calling himself “a lanky walk-on who’s living his dream,” wishing everyone a happy Pride month.
Michael Sam was the first openly gay NFL draftee in 2014, but was not on a regular-season roster and never played a game after he was drafted onto the St. Louis Rams.
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