Carl Nassib’s historic coming out on Monday is still sending shockwaves through the sports world and beyond. Nassib became the first active NFL player ever to come out as gay and is expected to become the first out gay player to play in an NFL regular-season game when he suits up for the Las Vegas Raiders later this year.
Just as good, his NFL compatriots have been overwhelming in their support for him since the news broke.
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis voiced his support for Nassib in a statement to ESPN. “It’s 2021. All the more power to Carl. It doesn’t change my opinion of him as a person or as a Raider,” Davis said.
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden also chimed in with kind words for Nassib, saying, “I learned a long time ago what makes a man different is what makes him great.”
Notable among the current NFL players that responded was New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley, who played with Nassib in college at Penn State University.
Much respect brudda
https://t.co/1G2ewVOWje
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) June 21, 2021
Other current and former NFL players, including JJ Watt and Warren Moon, publicly lauded Nassib as well.
As long as they helped us win and were great teammates- their sexual preference was never a issue..
We live in a different time now where diversity is much more accepted. Cheers Carl, and I hope this lets other athletes know, its OK to say who you are…
— Warren Moon (@WMoon1) June 22, 2021
Awesome moment. Spreading the love to the @TrevorProject very classy move.
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) June 21, 2021
Nassib also received support from fellow out former NFL players, including Michael Sam and Dave Kopay, the first former NFL player ever to come out as gay.
A number of NFL teams joined in the Pride party.
Much love and respect to Carl Nassib.
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) June 22, 2021
Much love to a member of our NFL family.
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) June 22, 2021
We stand with and support you, Carl!
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 22, 2021
James Franklin, Nassib’s head coach during his time at Penn State, expressed he was “even more proud” of Nassib for living his truth.
DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, stated the union “supports Carl and his work with the Trevor Project is proof that he – like our membership – is about making his community and this world a better place not for themselves, but for others.”
The Trevor Project also thanked Nassib for his $100,000 donation, which the NFL will be matching in support of Nassib.
Thank you, Carl Nassib, for living your truth and supporting our mission to end LGBTQ youth suicide
You can learn more about our life-saving suicide prevention and crisis intervention work at: https://t.co/PnwkXe7LWt
— The Trevor Project (@TrevorProject) June 22, 2021
Get ready to grab your Carl Nassib jersey!
Click to Page 2 and learn: Who is matching Nassib’s donation to Trevor project?; What is Nassib’s political party? How long will it be for his jersey to become the top seller? What’s Dan Savage think? And what do the gays look like “on their way to carl nassib’s instagram?”
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