Who is gay in nfl
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Also on the Cowboys practice squad.
Colton Underwood (2014-20): Tight end had preseason or practice squad stints with the Chargers, Eagles and Raiders.
I am sure that list is a lot bigger, but the players have not all come out publicly. but it is in gay years."
Brad Thorson (2011)
Stephen Nowland/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
A lineman at Kansas and Wisconsin in college, Thorson attended training camp with the Arizona Cardinals in 2011.
He played in 111 games and recorded 200 tackles and 12 sacks.
When Carl Nassib came out as gay during Pride Month in June 2021, he did much more than become the first active NFL player to be publicly out. He was sexually assaulted by a man he didn't know well when he was a young boy.
He died of AIDS complications in 1986, becoming the first former pro athlete known to die of AIDS.
He told The Washington Post 51 days before he died that he was battling the disease because he wanted some good to come from it.
Ray McDonald (1967-68)
AP Photo/JRT
Washington's first-round pick in 1967, Ray McDonald didn't have a lengthy career but had a tragic story.
He was "late" to a team meeting by coach Vince Lombardi's standards in 1969, and that cost him his job.
He told OutSports that he thinks the locker room would have accepted him if he came out during his career, but he wasn't sure how ownership would have viewed it.
Esera Tuaolo (1991-99)
Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
"Mr. When Nassib came out, Kopay told OutSports he was ecstatic to hear the news.
"That's really big news.
His writing has appeared in numerous major outlets and in 2014, he became the NFL's first LGBTQ+ inclusion consultant.
Kwame Harris (2003-08)
Photo by Greg Trott/Getty Images
Harris grew up in Delaware but chose to move far from home and play offensive line for Stanford after his parents had trouble accepting his sexuality.
He came out to Philadelphia Magazine in 2013, saying he had offers from other NFL teams after he was cut. It's fabulous. He quit football and became a lawyer after earning a degree from the University of San Francisco Law School in 1980. You are gladiators; you are male; you kick butt."
Jeff Rohrer (1982-89)
Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
What would you say if I told you a former Dallas Cowboy married the man of his dreams?
He's said he had constant anxiety during his career over fears of being outed. However, 32 of them said they had teammates or coaches use a homophobic slur and 25 said an openly gay player would feel comfortable in an NFL locker room.
Nassib was far from the first gay player to wear an NFL uniform, he's merely just the first one to come out while playing.
He knows this because many of them have reached out to him. Outsports breaks down the list of 16 players, who have openly come out publicly. ESPN polled 51 active NFL players in 2014 before Michael Sam became the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL, and 44 of those players said a teammate's sexual orientation didn't matter to them.
The NFL Network produced a documentary on Smith being gay.
Ray McDonald (1967-68): Running back with Washington.
Roy Simmons (1979-83): Offensive lineman with the Giants and Redskins.
Jeff Rohrer (1982-89): Linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys.
Esera Tuaolo (1991-99: Defensive tackle with the Packers, Vikings, Jaguars, Falcons and Panthers.
After being cut by the Raiders following the 2021 season, Nassib signed on Aug. 15, 2022, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team he played for in 2018 and 2019. He told ESPN his declining play may have been due to the pressures of hiding who he was. It's only a matter of time before more embrace their sexualities in public.
While the NFL has done a better job showing it supports the LGBTQ+ community, it's up to the players and coaches who make up the NFL locker rooms to truly create a safe place where all are welcome.
He came out in a blog post in 2014, thanking athletes like Michael Sam and Jason Collins for helping him gain the courage. He's served as a Gay Games Ambassador. The NFL Network produced a documentary on Smith being gay.
Ray McDonald (1967-68): Running back with Washington.
Roy Simmons (1979-83): Offensive lineman with the Giants and Redskins.
Jeff Rohrer (1982-89): Linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys.
Esera Tuaolo (1991-99: Defensive tackle with the Packers, Vikings, Jaguars, Falcons and Panthers.
My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission.