Beg an out gay man and a soccer player is still somethg that’s greeted wh homophobia. See eight out and proud male gay footballers.
Contents:
- MEET THE 16 OUT GAY AND BI FOOTBALL PLAYERS THE NFL’S 103-YEAR HISTORY
- 8 MALE FOOTBALL PLAYERS WHO DARED TO COME OUT AS GAY
- HERE ARE EIGHT OUT AND PROUD MALE GAY FOOTBALLERS
- GAY FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO WOULD BE ‘SRED’ TO PLAY AT WORLD CUP QATAR
- 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
- JAKE DANIELS BE FIRST UK MALE FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY SCE 1990
- JOSH CAVALLO: ONLY OPENLY GAY TOP-FLIGHT MALE FOOTBALLER SAYS FIFA’S ‘ONELOVE’ ARMBAND BAN HAS MA HIM FEEL ‘EXCLUD’
- 8 OPENLY GAY AND BI LLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS PLAYED SEASON ON THEIR TERMS
MEET THE 16 OUT GAY AND BI FOOTBALL PLAYERS THE NFL’S 103-YEAR HISTORY
Carl Nassib is the first to ever play a down as openly gay, but the rt are still trailblazers. * are there any gay footballer *
The NFL has played for more than 100 years and there have been 16 gay or bi players to e out publicly.
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.
8 MALE FOOTBALL PLAYERS WHO DARED TO COME OUT AS GAY
In 1990, Jt Fashanu beme the first football player to publicly e out as gay. Sce then, only seventeen players have done the same. * are there any gay footballer *
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.
HERE ARE EIGHT OUT AND PROUD MALE GAY FOOTBALLERS
* are there any gay footballer *
In June, Carl Nassib of the Rairs me out as gay.
Football, like any other game, also has many gay players. But tak guts to e out and reveal one’s genr as gay, which is ually an act of urage a world that is not ndned to accept every genr. This listicle will mentn eight male football players who dared to e out as gay.
Seventeen male footballers have urageoly revealed their sexualy as gay public so far. Even though has already been three s sce Jt Fashanu first publicly me out as gay, there are only a few of them revealg . The primary reason behd many gay footballers not revealg their sexualy publicly is fear of homophobia on and off the pch.
GAY FOOTBALLER JOSH CAVALLO WOULD BE ‘SRED’ TO PLAY AT WORLD CUP QATAR
Josh Cavallo, the only openly gay top-flight male soccer player the sport, has told CNN that FIFA’s cisn to ban players om wearg “OneLove” armbands at the Qatar 2022 has ma him feel “exclud.” * are there any gay footballer *
So, many profsnal leagu, teams, and players are raisg their voic to fight back agast homophobia so that gay footballers don’t face backlash while g out. Now, whout any further ado, let’s list the football players who dared to e out as gay publicly. Furthermore, he is the latt active footballer to e out as gay.
Moreover, Andy Brennan is the first Atralian male footballer to openly disclosed beg gay.
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
Currently, he is the only openly gay football player to play any of the Amerin top 5 major leagu. In 2020, durg the San Diego Loyal match agast Phoneix Risg FC, Mart released a story of homophobic sults directed toward him. One of the hight-profile male football players publicly clarg himself as gay is German footballer Thomas Hzlsperger.
JAKE DANIELS BE FIRST UK MALE FOOTBALLER TO E OUT AS GAY SCE 1990
In January 2014, Hzlsperger me out as gay while terviewg Die Ze, a German newspaper. Later, he stated he was released a few years back and was gay.
His fellow German players supported his cisn to announce himself as gay publicly. Durg his spell at Leeds, Rodgers publicly appeared gay Febary 2013. Later, after wng the 2014 MLS Cup, Rodgers also beme the first gay male to w the league tle the USA.
JOSH CAVALLO: ONLY OPENLY GAY TOP-FLIGHT MALE FOOTBALLER SAYS FIFA’S ‘ONELOVE’ ARMBAND BAN HAS MA HIM FEEL ‘EXCLUD’
In 2015, Rodger got ducted to the Natnal Gay and Lbian Sports Hall of Fame. In November 2011, an terview wh Canadian broadster Rad Canada, Tto me out as gay. Moreover, David Tto is the first profsnal Amerin male profsnal footballer to e out as gay.
8 OPENLY GAY AND BI LLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS PLAYED SEASON ON THEIR TERMS
In 2019, he was also featured a documentary related to homophobia sports named Standg on the Le.