Raiders DE Carl Nassib becomes first active NFL player to come out as gay
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib posted on Instagram on Monday afternoon, announcing he is gay. Nassib becomes the first active NFL player to come out as gay, but says he hopes announcements like his won’t be treated as such a big deal in the future.
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The 28-year-old Nassib said he also is donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project, a top suicide prevention service for LGBTQ youth.
In a statement, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league “is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today.”
“Representation matters,” Goodell said. “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.”
Nassib joined the Raiders in 2020 on a three-year, $25 million free-agent deal, with $16.75 million guaranteed. He had 2.5 sacks and an interception in 14 games, five starts, for Las Vegas last season.