Why There Few Openly Gay Athlet In Men's Profsnal Sports : NPR

Contents:

• THE 39 CURRENT NFL PLAYERS HAVE ALL PLAYED WH AN OUT GAY TEAMMATE
• MEET THE 16 OUT GAY AND BI FOOTBALL PLAYERS THE NFL’S 103-YEAR HISTORY
• THE 61 CURRENT NFL PLAYERS, 13 OWNERS AND 9 HEAD ACH SUPPORT GAY AND BI ATHLET
• GAY OR BISEXUAL PLAYERS ON EVERY PRO FOOTBALL TEAM, SAYS FORMER U.S. FOOTBALLER
• FAMEWATCHER SEARCH PRIMARY MENU SKIP TO NTENT HOMECELEBRY HAIR TRANSPLANTCELEBRY PLASTIC SURGERYCELEBRY LEATHER JACKETBODY SHAPER SEARCH FOR: SPORTS IS SO GAYGAY NFL PLAYERS: OUT OR RUMORED GAY AMERIN FOOTBALL JOCKS
• CARL NASSIB, FIRST OPENLY GAY NFL PLAYER, TO BE RELEASED BY RAIRS
• 7 GAY NFL FOOTBALL PLAYERS
• TOP 10 GAY NFL PLAYERS WHO ARE TLY INSPIRATNAL
• WHY THERE ARE FEW OPENLY GAY ATHLET IN MEN'S PROFSNAL SPORTS
• 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
• RAIRS’ CARL NASSIB ANNOUNC HE’S GAY, AN N.F.L. FIRST
• FORMER NFL PLAYER: THERE ARE GAY, BISEXUAL PLAYERS ON EVERY PRO FOOTBALL TEAM
• THERE HAVE BEEN 11 KNOWN GAY PLAYERS NFL HISTORY
• IN 101 NFL SEASONS THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN OPENLY GAY PLAYER
• NORTH AMERI’S FOUR BIGGT PRO SPORTS LEAGU HAVE BEEN AROUND A BED 398 YEARS. THEY’VE HAD TWO OPENLY GAY ACTIVE PLAYERS
• CARL NASSIB, FIRST OPENLY GAY PLAYER NFL GAME, MAK HISTORY AND STARS THRILLG LAS VEGAS RAIRS W

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

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. So we set out to figure out how many current NFL players have already played on the same team wh an out gay teammate.

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

We found 39 current NFL players, who were on a roster for the 2020 season, who have already had an out gay teammate. 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. 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.

THE 61 CURRENT NFL PLAYERS, 13 OWNERS AND 9 HEAD ACH SUPPORT GAY AND BI ATHLET

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. 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.

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

“The silent majory of sports legends have yet to speak out favor of LGBTQ+ sports, and I’m sure is not due to homophobia but a lack of knowledge and fear, ” said Rsell, who is also the thor of his upg memoir, The Yards Between Us. Below we’ve listed current NFL players, team owners and head ach who have — wh their actns and/or words — monstrated support for the LGBT muny, gay athlet, fans and anyone else between. All of this is addn to Roger Gooll — the NFL missner and the most powerful person Amerin sports — who has for 10 years talked publicly many tim about his support for the LGBT muny, cludg his gay brother.

FAMEWATCHER SEARCH PRIMARY MENU SKIP TO NTENT HOMECELEBRY HAIR TRANSPLANTCELEBRY PLASTIC SURGERYCELEBRY LEATHER JACKETBODY SHAPER SEARCH FOR: SPORTS IS SO GAYGAY NFL PLAYERS: OUT OR RUMORED GAY AMERIN FOOTBALL JOCKS

There are also a number of NFL owners and head ach who have publicly exprsed support for gay athlet and the LGBT muny.

Note that other players, ach and owners shared generic msag about cludg anyone who n help their team, but their msage didn’t que rg to as “support” for the LGBT muny or gay teammat.

Perkz/@rlnassib/@rkrelentls)When Kansas State offensive tackle and NFL hopeful Stt Frantz me out to the natn as gay, he shared that his teammat (to whom he'd e out earlier) had warmly received the news, a sign the most alpha of locker rooms may fally be ready for equaly.

CARL NASSIB, FIRST OPENLY GAY NFL PLAYER, TO BE RELEASED BY RAIRS

Roy "Sugar Bear" Simmons, an offensive leman for the New York Giants and Washgton Redsks, beme the send NFL player ever to publicly reveal he was gay.

7 GAY NFL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

So Coach Vce Lombardi knew McDonald was gay when he took over learship of the team 1969, but ma clear there would be no discrimatn his locker room, those close to the legend say. Cornerback Wa Davis, who played preason wh the Tennsee Tans, Seattle Seahawks and Washgton Redsks and spent two seasons wh NFL Europe teams Berl Thunr and Barcelona Dragons, me out as gay 2012, nearly a after his retirement. He would later nfirm his sexualy on CNN and s down wh ESPN to discs the challeng of growg up gay Jamai and playg football while closeted.

He later cled to sign wh the Tennsee Tans and Dallas Cowboys before g out as gay at 24, he told Philalphia Magaze revealed to the magaze that he'd dated a male cheerlear at Purdue who had threatened to out him then.

TOP 10 GAY NFL PLAYERS WHO ARE TLY INSPIRATNAL

The Bachelor star and former football player (who was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted ee agent and was on the practice squad of the Oakland Rairs and the Philalphia Eagl) me out as gay April of 2021, sayg he had fally e to terms wh his sexualy and the "next step all of this was sort of lettg people know.

WHY THERE ARE FEW OPENLY GAY ATHLET IN MEN'S PROFSNAL SPORTS

The Rairs leman ma NFL history durg Pri Month 2021 when he me out as gay a heartfelt Instagram post, beg the first active NFL player to e out as member of the LGBTQ+ muny. The Hampton Universy player ma history October of 2022 when he me out as gay an Instagram Story post, beg the first out gay football player at a Historilly Black College or Universy. Otherwise, we create a pattern of celebratg an athlete’s bravery while also cuttg their reer off at the exampl offer utnary Michael Sam told the world he was gay, he was drafted the seventh round 2014, the lowt pick of any SEC fensive player of the year.

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

Dpe reachg out several tim, I haven’t spoken to my sports agent aga to this 2021, Carl beme the first NFL player on an active roster to e out as gay. 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.

RAIRS’ CARL NASSIB ANNOUNC HE’S GAY, AN N.F.L. FIRST

Major league sports 2013, followed later that year by basketball player Jason NFL has yet to see an openly gay player on the field, and fewer than 10 have e out first was David Kopay, now 77, who opened up about his sexualy 1975, three years after retirg. Louis Rams, but was ultimately cut om the team before playg a profsnal went on to play for the Montreal Alouett as the first openly gay player the Canadian Football League before retirg for mental health reasons one of the few openly gay former U. “You have to expla to (young people), ‘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 a teen ral California, O’Callaghan ternalized the gay jok and discrimatory language he heard his muny, and beme nvced his fay would hate him for beg gay.

He revealed that he had a relatnship wh fellow footballer Jerry currently serv as a board member the Gay and Lbian Athletics Foundatn and is an ambassador for the Feratn of Gay Gam. He wrote an tobgraphy, Alone In The Trench: My Life As A Gay Man In The NFL, which was published 2006 and has worked wh the NFL to fight homophobia the Frankl Simmons: Roy is an offensive leman who played for both the New York Giants and the Washgton Redsks.

FORMER NFL PLAYER: THERE ARE GAY, BISEXUAL PLAYERS ON EVERY PRO FOOTBALL TEAM

He me out as a gay man when he guted at the Phil Donahue Show footballers who are mored to belong to our gay NFL players list clu the followg:Kwame Harris.

THERE HAVE BEEN 11 KNOWN GAY PLAYERS NFL HISTORY

The two ma the news recently after Kwame allegedly beat his om Yahoo Sports:The NFL has no current players and startlgly few ex-players who are known to be gay, but appears ex-49ers and Rairs offensive tackle Kwame Harris, a former first-round pick, has voluntarily been add to the list as a rult of the legal fallout om a fight at a rtrant.

Like their ternatnal footballer unterparts, the men of Amerin football sometim fd themselv very gay suatns — like the pic below — which leav no choice but to shout, “Hey, Amerin football is so gay! They have tight ends, and wi receivers, and wedge bters which are the gayt terms for a player posn team sports ever. If this is te, then Amerin football players are gayer than the general populatn only 10% of whom are nsired to be gay.

* To be fair, the study which stated that 30% of Amerin footballers are gay is very very flawed and, although was ed published a reputable journal, don’t pass the smell tt at NFL Players: Rumored or Confirmed Gay Amerin Football Jocks. The Las Vegas Rairs are releasg Carl Nassib, the fensive end who ma history last year as the first openly gay active player NFL history.

IN 101 NFL SEASONS THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN OPENLY GAY PLAYER

“The Rairs, the NFL, have monstrated that they support this man as a gay man, ” Zeigler said, addg that Nassib’s succsful rerd will help him quickly fd a new team. ” Former NFL player Ryan O’Callaghan, who me out as gay June 2017, after his time the league, said Nassib’s reer monstrat that players do not need to promise their LGBTQ inti sports. He is a board member of the Gay and Lbian Athletics Foundatn and is also the Gay Gam Ambassador of the Feratn of Gay Gam.

Davis is a board member of the New York Gay Football League and of the Gay, Lbian and Straight Edutn Network sport-advisory.

Soon his parents cid to send Harris away om his hometown for further tn to hi is homosexual his retirement om Amerin football, Kwame Harris 2013 publilly revealed of beg a homosexual an terview wh CNN. Amazgly though, of the thoands of men who have stepped onto the field, only a small handful have ever e out as gay. By marryg Ross, he beme the first openly gay NFL player to enter a same-sex marriage – somethg that has not been seen aga sce.

NORTH AMERI’S FOUR BIGGT PRO SPORTS LEAGU HAVE BEEN AROUND A BED 398 YEARS. THEY’VE HAD TWO OPENLY GAY ACTIVE PLAYERS

Sce g out, he has bee a board member at the Gay and Lbian Athletics Foundatn, pl he created an anizatn lled Hate Any Form is Wrong, which mpaigns agast homophobia. Atralian A-League soccer star Josh Cavallo me out as gay an October vio posted to his social media, beg hailed as the first current male top-flight profsnal soccer player to publicly do so.

"He ntued: "Growg up I always felt the need to hi myself, you know, bee I was ashamed, and ashamed I'll never be able to do what I love and be gay. In a September terview wh USA Today, 25-year-old mor league baseball player beme the only active baseball profsnal to be out as gay! The 28-year-old Natnal Football League player and Rairs fensive leman ma history when he me out as gay on Instagram durg Pri Month, beg the first veteran NFL player to e out as gay while signed to a regular-season ntract.

CARL NASSIB, FIRST OPENLY GAY PLAYER NFL GAME, MAK HISTORY AND STARS THRILLG LAS VEGAS RAIRS W

The Bachelor star and former football player (who was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted ee agent and was on the practice squad of the Oakland Rairs and the Philalphia Eagl) me out as gay April, sayg he had fally e to terms wh his sexualy and the "next step all of this was sort of lettg people know.

Corey Walsh, the 27-year-old pro BMX rir and Vans spokperson, said he isn't normally the type of person to "let people " on his personal life, but felt was important to e out as gay a March Instagram post bee "there are a lot of people still stgglg wh the same suatns" and he "jt wanted to let people know that they are not alone. Champn long track speedskater Conor McDermott-Mostowy never hid beg gay om his fay, iends, and fellow athlet, but he also wasn't one to rate his locker wh rabow Pri flags eher.