Jags' Maxen is first male Amerin pro sports ach to e out as gay - ESPN

Contents:

• MEET THE 16 OUT GAY AND BI FOOTBALL PLAYERS THE NFL’S 103-YEAR HISTORY
• JAGS' MAXEN IS FIRST MALE AMERIN PRO SPORTS ACH TO E OUT AS GAY
• KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH A US MEN’S PROFSNAL SPORTS LEAGUE TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY
• NFL ASSISTANT ACH OUT AS GAY
• THE 39 CURRENT NFL PLAYERS HAVE ALL PLAYED WH AN OUT GAY TEAMMATE
• THERE HAVE BEEN 11 KNOWN GAY PLAYERS NFL HISTORY
• CARL NASSIB BE FIRST OPENLY GAY PLAYER TO PLAY NFL GAME
• CARL NASSIB OF LAS VEGAS RAIRS ANNOUNC HE IS GAY, PLEDG $100,000 TO TREVOR PROJECT
• MEET THE 4 KNOWN GAY PLAYERS TO APPEAR A SUPER BOWL
• SAM ON GAY PLAYERS: 'A LOT OF '
• PREDATORS PROSPECT PROKOP OUT AS GAY, MAK NHL HISTORY
• CARL NASSIB OF LAS VEGAS RAIRS ANNOUNC HE IS GAY, PLEDG $100,000 TO TREVOR PROJECT
• GAY OR BISEXUAL PLAYERS ON EVERY PRO FOOTBALL TEAM, SAYS FORMER U.S. FOOTBALLER
• EVERY NFL TEAM HAS GAY OR BI PLAYERS, SAYS FORMER PRO FOOTBALLERRYAN O'CALLAGHAN REPORTS REGULARLY HEARG OM CLOSETED PLAYERS WHO FEAR G {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY JEFF TAYLORAUGT 28, 2019/3:54 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:1696PX;WIDTH:2544PX;}SPORTG NEWS VIA GETTY IMAG VIA GETTY IMAGFOXBOROUGH, MA - NOVEMBER 12: TOM BRADY #12 AND RYAN O'CALLAGHAN #68 OF THE NEW ENGLAND PATRTS STAND ON THE FIELD DURG A GAME AGAST THE NEW YORK JETS ON NOVEMBER 12, 2006 AT GILLETTE STADIUM FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHETTS. (PHOTO BY SPORTG NEWS VIA GETTY IMAG VIA GETTY IMAG)BY JEFF TAYLORAUGT 28, 2019 / 3:54 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"EVERY NFL TEAM HAS GAY OR BI PLAYERS, SAYS FORMER PRO FOOTBALLER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-08-28T19:54:26.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-08-28T19:54:26.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"JEFF TAYLOR","KEYWORDS":"SPORTS","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE "PLENTY OF CLOSETED NFL PLAYERS" ACRDG TO FORMER NEW ENGLAND PATRTS AND KANSAS CY CHIEFS OFFENSIVE LEMAN RYAN O’CALLAGHAN, WHO PUBLICLY ME OUT AS GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}O'CALLAGHAN (ABOVE, WEARG NUMBER 68), WHO PLAYED THE NFL OM 2006 TO 2011, TOLD RTERS HE HEARS OM CURRENT CLOSETED PROFSNAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS ON A REGULAR BASIS.MICHAEL ZAGARIS/SAN FRANCIS 49ERS/GETTY IMAGKANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: ROBBIE GOULD #9 OF THE SAN FRANCIS 49ERS KICKS A FIELD GOAL DURG THE GAME AGAST THE KANSAS CY CHIEFS AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM ON AUGT 24, 2019 KANSAS CY, MISSOURI. THE 49ER FEATED THE BRONS 27-17. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL ZAGARIS/SAN FRANCIS 49ERS/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I THK 'S SAFE TO SAY THERE'S AT LEAST ONE ON EVERY TEAM WHO IS EHER GAY OR BISEXUAL," HE SAID. "A LOT OF GUYS STILL SEE AS POTENTIALLY HAVG A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEIR REER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE THKS MOST ARE WORRIED THEY ULD LOSE SPONSORSHIPS AND POSSIBLY EVEN THEIR SPOT ON A TEAM. HE ADD THAT NTRACT GUARANTE MIGHT HELP, BUT SAID HE DON'T THK ANYTHG WILL REALLY CHANGE UNTIL A HIGH PROFILE PLAYER WHO IS STILL THE LEAGUE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE A HANDFUL OF DIVIDUALS HAVE E OUT AFTER THEIR PLAYG DAYS ME TO AN END, LIKE O'CALLAGHAN, AND THOUGH MICHAEL SAM BEME THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PERSON DRAFTED BY AN NFL TEAM, THE LEAGUE HAS YET TO HAVE AN OPENLY GAY OR BISEXUAL ATHLETE PLAY A DOWN A REGULAR SEASON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SAM WAS CUT BEFORE THE START OF THE REGULAR SEASON AND WENT ON TO PLAY FOR THE MONTREAL ALOUETT, MAKG HIM THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PLAYER THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE. HE RETIRED 2015.SPORTG NEWS VIA GETTY IMAG VIA GETTY IMAGEAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 24: NEW ORLEANS SATS QUARTERBACK DREW BRE (9) LOOKS TO PASS THE BALL DURG THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE NATNAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREASON GAME BETWEEN THE NEW ORLEANS SATS AND THE NEW YORK JETS ON AUGT 24, 2019, AT METLIFE STADIUM EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ. (PHOTO BY GREGORY FISHER/IN SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}O'CALLAGHAN STGGLED WH PRSN, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, AND AN ADDICTN TO PAKILLERS, WHICH HE WAS HELPED THROUGH BY A CHIEFS' PSYCHOLOGIST. THAT SAME PSYCHOLOGIST ALSO HELPED HIM FD THE STRENGTH TO E OUT TO HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I JT DON'T THK PEOPLE UNRSTAND THE REALY," HE SAID. "WE N STILL GET FIRED FOR BEG GAY OR NIED SERVIC FOR BEG TRANS."WLEY HT/GETTY IMAGKANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 20: RYAN O'CALLAGHAN #75 OF THE KANSAS CY CHIEFS ON THE SIL DURG A GAME AGAST THE OAKLAND RAIRS AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2009 KANSAS CY, MISSOURI. THE RAIRS FEATED THE CHIEFS 13-10. (PHOTO BY WLEY HT/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}O'CALLAGHAN DURG HIS PLAYG DAYS WH THE KANSAS CY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HIS UPG BOOK, MY LIFE ON THE LE: HOW THE NFL DAMN NEAR KILLED ME AND END UP SAVG MY LIFE, AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 3, OUTL HIS STGGL AND HIS JOURNEY THROUGH THEM TO THE SELF-ACCEPTANCE HE HAS SCE BEEN ABLE TO DISVER WH HIMSELF. PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARDS SUPPORTG THE RYAN O'CALLAGHAN FOUNDATN, WHICH HE SET UP TO PROVI SCHOLARSHIPS AND MENTORSHIP TO YOUNG LGBTQ {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU HAVE TO EXPLA TO [THEM], 'YOU'RE GOG TO N TO SOME IGNORANT PEOPLE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FAH THAT THEY'LL TCH UP TO THE RT OF THE WORLD AND UNRSTAND YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE,'" HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH A US MEN’S PROFSNAL SPORTS LEAGUE TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY
• JAGS' MAXEN IS FIRST MALE AMERIN PRO SPORTS ACH TO E OUT AS GAY

MEET THE 16 OUT GAY AND BI FOOTBALL PLAYERS THE NFL’S 103-YEAR HISTORY

The NFL has played for more than 100 years and there have been 16 gay or bi players to e out publicly.

JAGS' MAXEN IS FIRST MALE AMERIN PRO SPORTS ACH TO E OUT AS GAY

16 and the first one to e out as gay while on an active roster.

Over the years, Outsports has known of a few other players who are gay but have never e out, even when retired.

KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH A US MEN’S PROFSNAL SPORTS LEAGUE TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY

The NFL Network produced a documentary on Smh beg gay. Jenks is gay and this was the the first time he wily discsed his sexual orientatn.

NFL ASSISTANT ACH OUT AS GAY

In June, Carl Nassib of the Rairs me out as gay.

-- Jaguars assistant strength and ndng ach Kev Maxen has bee the first male ach major Amerin men's profsnal sports to publicly e out as gay, tellg he ma the cisn bee he didn't want to hi who he is any longer and to possibly spire others siar 's a cisn and move that drew praise and support om owner Shad Khan, who was a vol and emphatic supporter of a cy ordance that expand protectns on the grounds of sexual orientatn, genr inty and genr exprsn. Outsi lebacker Carl Nassib beme the first active NFL player to e out as gay and to play a game Associated Prs ntributed to this report.

THE 39 CURRENT NFL PLAYERS HAVE ALL PLAYED WH AN OUT GAY TEAMMATE

Kev Maxen has bee the first male ach a US men’s profsnal sports league to e out as gay.

THERE HAVE BEEN 11 KNOWN GAY PLAYERS NFL HISTORY

Per Outsports, as of September 2022, there have only ever been 16 players NFL history to publicly e out as gay or bisexual. Carl Nassib beme the first active NFL player league history to announce that he is gay 2021.

CARL NASSIB BE FIRST OPENLY GAY PLAYER TO PLAY NFL GAME

Per Outsports, Maxen is the “first publicly out male ach a major Amerin men’s pro sports league, ” wh WNBA ach Curt Miller, who publicly me out to the media as gay 2015, also a publicly out male ach an Amerin profsnal sports league. Some people still believe that the NFL is a “homophobic” monolh where ’s “dangero” to be gay. Dpe Outsports chroniclg lerally dozens of piec of evince to the ntrary, there’s a ntued belief amongst some that NFL players would overwhelmgly reject a gay player if he me out.

CARL NASSIB OF LAS VEGAS RAIRS ANNOUNC HE IS GAY, PLEDG $100,000 TO TREVOR PROJECT

So we set out to figure out how many current NFL players have already played on the same team wh an out gay teammate. We found 39 current NFL players, who were on a roster for the 2020 season, who have already had an out gay teammate. In addn, dozens of other players have played agast an opponent they knew to be gay.

Those gay athlet are all still alive today. The 39 current NFL players have played wh at least five gay or bisexual men who were out to their team while they were on the same team. The Arizona Cardals have the most players we know have played wh an out gay teammate.

At least six of the players on the Cardals’ 2020 roster — about 10% of the team, — has already had a gay teammate they knew of.

MEET THE 4 KNOWN GAY PLAYERS TO APPEAR A SUPER BOWL

And they have llectively played llege wh all five out gay players. Wh that experience, solid veteran learship, a ach Kliff Kgsbury who has ld gay football player Stt Frantz, and a ont office that has monstrated an embrace of LGBTQ people, is easy to make the se that an out gay player wh the Cardals would be weled.

Of urse many other NFL players have played wh a gay or bi teammate before they me out (e. The are the current NFL players to have played wh an out gay or bi man on their team (wh that team and their current team listed):.

If you thk I’ve missed a current NFL player who’s played wh an out gay or bi teammate, be sure to leave the rmatn the ments below.

SAM ON GAY PLAYERS: 'A LOT OF '

Matt Gay (Indianapolis Colts) - 80 Overall. The announcement today by former Patrts and Chiefs offensive leman Ryan O'Callaghan that he is gay brgs to seven the number of NFL known gay players NFL history who have played a regular season game. In addn, four other players who me out as gay were NFL trag mps, some playg preason gam.

Kopay played wh two teammat who were gay: tight end Jerry Smh and nng back Ray McDonald.

Gay players have long been the NFL. Legendary Packers and Redsks ach Vce Lombardi — who had an openly gay brother — knew that some of his players were gay. In the Outsports article on O’Callaghan g out, longtime NFL executive Stt Pli says he has unseled gay NFL players before.

PREDATORS PROSPECT PROKOP OUT AS GAY, MAK NHL HISTORY

Rairs fensive end Carl Nassib beme the first openly gay player to play an NFL game on Monday night, and may be a sign of progrs that when he spoke wh reporters afterward, that wasn’t the first thg he was asked about. ”Michael Sam me out as openly gay before the Rams drafted him 2014.

CARL NASSIB OF LAS VEGAS RAIRS ANNOUNC HE IS GAY, PLEDG $100,000 TO TREVOR PROJECT

Sam was the subject of tense media attentn as a gay NFL player, but Nassib is gettg attentn mostly for jt beg a football player. From Jackie Robson (the first black player the MLB) to Kenny Washgton (the first black player the NFL) to Michael Sam (the first openly gay player drafted the NFL), the barriers make headle news when happens.

I jt want to take a quick moment to say that I'm gay. He me to natnal attentn as a star of the Browns' "Hard Knocks" appearance 2018, givg fancial advice to teammat and offerg his take on the existence of Missouri lebacker Michael Sam beme the first openly gay player to be drafted NFL history 2014, when the Rams took him 249th overall. When Carl Nassib ma the NFL playoffs the last two seasons — wh the Las Vegas Rairs 2021 and the Tampa Bay Bucneers 2022 — we had a chance for an active player who is gay to appear a Super Bowl.

But Nassib’s teams were elimated the wild-rd round each time and so we will awa a gay player makg history.

GAY OR BISEXUAL PLAYERS ON EVERY PRO FOOTBALL TEAM, SAYS FORMER U.S. FOOTBALLER

There are no openly gay players Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas Cy Chiefs and Philalphia Eagl. There has never been an openly gay player the Super Bowl, but four players who were later me out have played the game.

EVERY NFL TEAM HAS GAY OR BI PLAYERS, SAYS FORMER PRO FOOTBALLERRYAN O'CALLAGHAN REPORTS REGULARLY HEARG OM CLOSETED PLAYERS WHO FEAR G {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY JEFF TAYLORAUGT 28, 2019/3:54 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:1696PX;WIDTH:2544PX;}SPORTG NEWS VIA GETTY IMAG VIA GETTY IMAGFOXBOROUGH, MA - NOVEMBER 12: TOM BRADY #12 AND RYAN O'CALLAGHAN #68 OF THE NEW ENGLAND PATRTS STAND ON THE FIELD DURG A GAME AGAST THE NEW YORK JETS ON NOVEMBER 12, 2006 AT GILLETTE STADIUM FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHETTS. (PHOTO BY SPORTG NEWS VIA GETTY IMAG VIA GETTY IMAG)BY JEFF TAYLORAUGT 28, 2019 / 3:54 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"EVERY NFL TEAM HAS GAY OR BI PLAYERS, SAYS FORMER PRO FOOTBALLER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-08-28T19:54:26.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-08-28T19:54:26.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"JEFF TAYLOR","KEYWORDS":"SPORTS","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE "PLENTY OF CLOSETED NFL PLAYERS" ACRDG TO FORMER NEW ENGLAND PATRTS AND KANSAS CY CHIEFS OFFENSIVE LEMAN RYAN O’CALLAGHAN, WHO PUBLICLY ME OUT AS GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}O'CALLAGHAN (ABOVE, WEARG NUMBER 68), WHO PLAYED THE NFL OM 2006 TO 2011, TOLD RTERS HE HEARS OM CURRENT CLOSETED PROFSNAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS ON A REGULAR BASIS.MICHAEL ZAGARIS/SAN FRANCIS 49ERS/GETTY IMAGKANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: ROBBIE GOULD #9 OF THE SAN FRANCIS 49ERS KICKS A FIELD GOAL DURG THE GAME AGAST THE KANSAS CY CHIEFS AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM ON AUGT 24, 2019 KANSAS CY, MISSOURI. THE 49ER FEATED THE BRONS 27-17. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL ZAGARIS/SAN FRANCIS 49ERS/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I THK 'S SAFE TO SAY THERE'S AT LEAST ONE ON EVERY TEAM WHO IS EHER GAY OR BISEXUAL," HE SAID. "A LOT OF GUYS STILL SEE AS POTENTIALLY HAVG A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEIR REER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE THKS MOST ARE WORRIED THEY ULD LOSE SPONSORSHIPS AND POSSIBLY EVEN THEIR SPOT ON A TEAM. HE ADD THAT NTRACT GUARANTE MIGHT HELP, BUT SAID HE DON'T THK ANYTHG WILL REALLY CHANGE UNTIL A HIGH PROFILE PLAYER WHO IS STILL THE LEAGUE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE A HANDFUL OF DIVIDUALS HAVE E OUT AFTER THEIR PLAYG DAYS ME TO AN END, LIKE O'CALLAGHAN, AND THOUGH MICHAEL SAM BEME THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PERSON DRAFTED BY AN NFL TEAM, THE LEAGUE HAS YET TO HAVE AN OPENLY GAY OR BISEXUAL ATHLETE PLAY A DOWN A REGULAR SEASON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SAM WAS CUT BEFORE THE START OF THE REGULAR SEASON AND WENT ON TO PLAY FOR THE MONTREAL ALOUETT, MAKG HIM THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PLAYER THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE. HE RETIRED 2015.SPORTG NEWS VIA GETTY IMAG VIA GETTY IMAGEAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 24: NEW ORLEANS SATS QUARTERBACK DREW BRE (9) LOOKS TO PASS THE BALL DURG THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE NATNAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREASON GAME BETWEEN THE NEW ORLEANS SATS AND THE NEW YORK JETS ON AUGT 24, 2019, AT METLIFE STADIUM EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ. (PHOTO BY GREGORY FISHER/IN SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}O'CALLAGHAN STGGLED WH PRSN, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, AND AN ADDICTN TO PAKILLERS, WHICH HE WAS HELPED THROUGH BY A CHIEFS' PSYCHOLOGIST. THAT SAME PSYCHOLOGIST ALSO HELPED HIM FD THE STRENGTH TO E OUT TO HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I JT DON'T THK PEOPLE UNRSTAND THE REALY," HE SAID. "WE N STILL GET FIRED FOR BEG GAY OR NIED SERVIC FOR BEG TRANS."WLEY HT/GETTY IMAGKANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 20: RYAN O'CALLAGHAN #75 OF THE KANSAS CY CHIEFS ON THE SIL DURG A GAME AGAST THE OAKLAND RAIRS AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2009 KANSAS CY, MISSOURI. THE RAIRS FEATED THE CHIEFS 13-10. (PHOTO BY WLEY HT/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}O'CALLAGHAN DURG HIS PLAYG DAYS WH THE KANSAS CY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HIS UPG BOOK, MY LIFE ON THE LE: HOW THE NFL DAMN NEAR KILLED ME AND END UP SAVG MY LIFE, AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 3, OUTL HIS STGGL AND HIS JOURNEY THROUGH THEM TO THE SELF-ACCEPTANCE HE HAS SCE BEEN ABLE TO DISVER WH HIMSELF. PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARDS SUPPORTG THE RYAN O'CALLAGHAN FOUNDATN, WHICH HE SET UP TO PROVI SCHOLARSHIPS AND MENTORSHIP TO YOUNG LGBTQ {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU HAVE TO EXPLA TO [THEM], 'YOU'RE GOG TO N TO SOME IGNORANT PEOPLE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FAH THAT THEY'LL TCH UP TO THE RT OF THE WORLD AND UNRSTAND YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE,'" HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

There have certaly been more than four gay or bi men who have played a Super Bowl, but the are the only four whose sexual orientatn has been ma known publicly:. Smh, who later died of plitns om AIDS, never me out publicly as gay. But his orientatn was known by his Washgton teammat, cludg nng back Dave Kopay, who me out as gay 1975 after retirg om a ne-year reer.

KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE ACH A US MEN’S PROFSNAL SPORTS LEAGUE TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY

He has been an advote for LGBT people sports sce g out as gay 2003. When I asked Kraft 2018 about havg an openly gay Patrt, he dismissed any ncerns, sayg, “the only thg I re about is n they help w. Sam on gay players: 'A lot of ' news servicMar 27, 2015, 07:49 AM ETMichael Sam may be the first openly gay player to be selected the NFL draft, but he said Thursday that there are more gay players the NFL.

"I am not the only gay person the NFL, " Sam said durg a speech and Q&A ssn Dallas on Thursday, acrdg to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. I rpect the players that did reach out to me and had the urage to tell me that they were also gay, but they do not have the same urage as I do to e out before I even played a down the NFL. Maybe I thought was 2014, and people will unrstand that there's gay NFL players.

There's gay athlet everywhere. "Hopefully I'm not beg discrimated [agast] bee I'm gay, " Sam said Thursday, acrdg to the Star-Telegram. "I don't believe that I'm beg discrimated [agast] bee I'm gay.

JAGS' MAXEN IS FIRST MALE AMERIN PRO SPORTS ACH TO E OUT AS GAY

I'm unemployed, and I don't believe I'm out of the NFL bee I'm gay. "Today I am proud to publicly tell everyone that I am gay. I hope that sharg who I am I n help other people see that gay people are wele the hockey muny, as we work to make sure that hockey tly is for everyone.

"Vio: Le Prokop out as first gay player the NHLThe rponse om the NHL was immediate, startg wh NHL Commissner Gary Bettman, who spoke to Prokop by phone. Natnal Football League team has at least one gay or bisexual player, acrdg to openly gay former player Ryan O’Callaghan, but they fear backlash for g out cludg losg sponsorships or even their place on the publicly sharg his sexual orientatn 2017, O’Callaghan said he regularly hears om closeted current profsnal football players. “I thk ’s safe to say there’s at least one on every team who is eher gay or bisexual.

“We n still get fired for beg gay or nied servic for beg trans.