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Homosexuality in American football

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In 2021, Carl Nassib became the first active player in the NFL to publicly come out.

Homosexuality in American football has historically been a taboo subject. The generally masculine environment that exists in men's American football, along with the hypermasculinity promoted by sportscasters, make it difficult for players to come out.[1][2]

In women's football in 2001, Philadelphia Liberty Belles player Alissa Wykes of the National Women's Football Association (NWFA) came out publicly as lesbian.[3] In men's football, after he retired, NFL player David Kopay in 1975 was the first major professional team-sport athlete to come out as gay.[4][5] Players did not come out at the college level until the 2010s. In college football, Division III player Conner Mertens came out as bisexual in January 2014, becoming the first active college football player at any level to publicly come out as bisexual or gay.[6][7] In August 2014, Arizona State player Chip Sarafin became the first publicly out active Division I player when he came out as gay.[8]

There has been only one player who has publicly come out as gay or bisexual while being an active player in the National Football League (NFL): Carl Nassib, who came out as gay on June 21, 2021, while with the Las Vegas Raiders.[9] He became the first openly gay player to play in an NFL game on September 13, 2021.[10] He later became the first openly gay player in an NFL playoff game on January 15, 2022.[11][12]

Six former NFL players have come out publicly after they retired.[13] Before Carl Nassib's coming out, many experts believed that the first openly gay active NFL player would not be a current athlete, but instead an already out high school or college player who ends up in the NFL.[13][14]

History

[edit]

1960s to 1980s

[edit]

While Vince Lombardi was head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1959 to 1967, he was known to treat his players roughly in practices and during games, but he insisted on unconditional respect for gay players and front office staff.[15] Demanding "Nothing but Acceptance" from players and coaches toward all people, Lombardi would fire a coach or release a player should they insult the sexual orientation of anyone.[16] During his time in Washington, Lombardi's assistant general manager, David Slatterly, was gay, as was PR director Joe Blair, who was described as Lombardi's "right-hand man".[17] According to son Vince Lombardi Jr.:

He saw everyone as equals, and I think having a gay brother (Hal) was a big factor in his approach...I think my father would've felt, 'I hope I've created an atmosphere in the locker room where this would not be an issue at all. And if you do have an issue, the problem will be yours because my locker room will tolerate nothing but acceptance.'

Upon his arrival in Washington to coach the Redskins in 1969, Lombardi was aware of tight end Jerry Smith's gay sexual orientation.[18] "Lombardi protected and loved Jerry", said former teammate Dave Kopay.[19] Lombardi brought Smith into his office and told him that his sexual orientation would never be an issue as long as he was coaching the Redskins; Smith would be judged solely on his on-the-field performance and contribution to the team's success.[20] Under Lombardi's leadership Smith flourished, becoming an integral part of Lombardi's offense, and was voted a First Team All-Pro for the first time in his career, which was also Lombardi's only season as Redskin head coach.[21]

Lombardi invited other gay players to training camp, and would privately hope they would prove they could earn a spot on the team.[22] At the Washington Redskins training camp in 1969, Ray McDonald was a gay player, with sub-par skills,[23] who was trying to maintain his spot on the roster,[24] but this time with Lombardi as the Redskins' new head coach. True to his word, Lombardi told running back coach George Dickson,[25] "I want you to get on McDonald and work on him and work on him – and if I hear one of you people make reference to his manhood, you'll be out of here before your ass hits the ground."[26]

NFL player David Kopay retired in 1972. In 1975, he became the first major professional athlete in a team sport to come out as gay.[27][5]

Jerry Smith died of AIDS at age 43 on October 15, 1986, at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland.[28][29][30] He was the first former professional athlete to die of the disease.[31] Although he acknowledged that he had AIDS, he never publicly acknowledged he was gay.[31]

1990s and 2000s

[edit]

In December 2013, former teammates on the 1993 Houston Oilers said that at least two key players on the roster were generally known by the team to be gay and that they were accepted by the team. Teammate Bubba McDowell said showering with the gay teammates was "no big deal".[32]

NWFA player Alissa Wykes came out as a lesbian in 2001. After she came out in the December/January 2002 edition of Sports Illustrated for Women,[3] the league's owner Catherine Masters condemned her for pursuing her own "personal agenda", stating that the league had received "hundreds of phone calls. Gay people were saying it was horrible. Straight people were saying it was great."[33] In 2003, as a panel member at the first National Gay/Lesbian Athletics Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Wykes joked that she felt "great empathy for the women on my team who are straight. I mean—a straight female football player?"[34]

Division II college football player Brian Sims came out as gay to his team in 2000 while playing for Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania,[35] and publicly told his story in 2009.[36]

2010s

[edit]

Alan Gendreau was openly gay to his Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team from 2008 through 2011, but he made no mention of it to the media.[37] Otherwise, he could have been the first publicly out gay active player in Division I college football.[14] Outsports, a website specializing in LGBTQ people in sports, released his story about being a gay football player on April 23, 2013.[37][14]

In January 2014, Conner Mertens of the Division III Willamette Bearcats publicly came out as bisexual, becoming the first active college football player at any level to publicly come out as bisexual.[38][39] In August, Chip Sarafin came out as gay, becoming the first active Division I player to come out as gay.[40] The following season, in 2015, another Division I offensive lineman, Mason Darrow of Princeton University, also came out as gay publicly.[41]

CBSSports.com reported in April 2013 that one NFL team had a player that was not openly gay, but his teammates were aware that he was gay and did not care.[42] That same month, Ayanbadejo said there were up to four NFL players who were considering coming out as gay on the same day with the hope that any backlash would be shared and the pressure on one person reduced.[43] NFL commissioner Roger Goodell emphasized that discrimination based on sexual orientation was unacceptable in the NFL. His statement came after players said they were asked during the NFL Scouting Combine if they liked girls.[44]

Selected by the St. Louis Rams in 2014, Michael Sam was the first publicly gay player to be drafted into the NFL.

In February 2014, Michael Sam publicly came out as gay after his college career had ended. He became the first publicly gay player drafted in the NFL when he was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 draft.[39][45] In the 2014 NFL draft, the St. Louis Rams drafted Michael Sam in the seventh round, the 249th of 256 players selected,[46] which made him the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL.[45][47] However, on August 30, St. Louis released Sam as part of a final round of cuts to reduce their roster to the league-mandated 53 players before the start of the regular season.[48][49]

In 2017, Scott Frantz publicly came out as gay, joining My-King Johnson as two of the first openly gay players in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.[50] Later that same year, Frantz became the first openly gay college football player to play in a game for an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision school.[51]

In 2018, Bradley Kim of the United States Air Force Academy came out as gay, thus becoming the first openly gay football player to play for any military academy in the United States; open homosexuality was forbidden in the U.S. Armed Forces until 2011.[52] Also in 2018, Division II Wyatt Pertuset of Capital University became the first openly gay college player to score a touchdown.[53][54]

In November 2018, former player Jeff Rohrer became the first known current or former NFL player to be in a same-sex marriage.[55]

In August 2019, free agent Ryan Russell came out publicly as bisexual in an essay he penned for ESPN.[56]

2020s

[edit]

In June 2021, Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib came out as gay via Instagram, becoming the first active NFL player to do so. He announced a $100,000 donation to The Trevor Project as part of the post.[57] Nassib was entering his sixth NFL season and the second year of his three-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.[58] He became the first openly gay player to play in an NFL game on September 13, 2021.[10] He later became the first openly gay player in an NFL playoff game on January 15, 2022.[11][12]

In 2022, Byron Perkins of Hampton University came out as gay, making him the first openly gay football player at any historically black college or university.[59][60]

Reception

[edit]

By players

[edit]

Heterosexuality is flaunted in NFL locker rooms with the passing of pornographic magazines and videos, and visits to strip clubs.[61] Anti-gay slurs are sometimes used in the locker room.[62][63] Fear of backlash from employers, teammates and fans has stopped players from coming out.[64]

Before Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, San Francisco 49ers player Chris Culliver on media day during an interview with The Artie Lange Show, was asked if he thought any gay players were on his team which he replied "No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do...Can't be with that sweet stuff." He also opined that any gay players should wait 10 years after retiring before coming out.[65] Culliver received backlash for his comments.[66] Baltimore Ravens player Brendon Ayanbadejo, an advocate for same-sex marriage, estimated that 50 percent of the league agreed with Culliver, 25 percent disagreed, and 25 percent were accepting of everyone even if they were not in complete support of issues such as gay marriage.[66][67] Culliver later apologized for his "ugly comments" that were "not what I feel in my heart".[68][69][70]

NFL player Ryan O'Callaghan came out publicly as gay in 2017; he came out to Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli before his NFL career ended in 2011.[71] In 2019, O'Callaghan said "I think it's safe to say there's at least one on every team who is either gay or bisexual. A lot of guys still see it as potentially having a negative impact on their career."[72]

By leagues and teams

[edit]

The NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2011 contained added protections banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.[73] In 2013, the NFL Rookie Symposium planned for the first time to have speakers on the issue of sexual orientation.[74] The same year, NFL player Chris Kluwe was released by the Minnesota Vikings, which he believed was due to his being outspoken in support of same-sex marriage. He said that special teams coach Mike Priefer in 2012 made homophobic remarks and criticized the player for his views on same-sex marriage, a charge Priefer denied. Kluwe also alleged that head coach Leslie Frazier told him to stop speaking about same-sex marriage.[75] In June 2021, the NFL tweeted in support of the LGBTQ+ community by advocating for The Trevor Project[76] and matching player Carl Nassib's donation of $100,000 while linking the website for fans to donate as well. After Nassib officially came out, Morning Consult conducted a survey gauging the likelihood of watching the NFL. The survey was concluded with the result of 1 out of 3 LGBTQ+ adults are more interested in watching the NFL following Nassib coming out.[77] This contributes to the general goal of the LGBTQ+ community of gaining more representation within sports so that more LGBTQ+ athletes feel comfortable to participate.[78]

Ahead of Super Bowl LVI, the NFL partnered with GLAAD made history by hosting an event where associates of the NFL were able to mingle with supporters and officials of GLAAD. "LGBTQ athletes need to see more stories of athletes like them, who are supported by their teammates, because so many of them are accepted, just as they are," GLAAD Deputy President and COO Darra Gordon said in her remarks. "I hope young LGBTQ athletes see posts from tonight and know that they have a rightful place to be out in the NFL, in football, in sports, and at any cultural milestone they aim for."[79]

By the media

[edit]

Prior to any public outings, there was some media interest in the experience of gay professional athletes. David Kopay, the first former NFL player to publicly come out, said that he was inspired by negative reactions to a story on the hardships of gay professional athletes that included a quote from his teammate Jerry Smith, with whom he had a sexual encounter while playing together.[5]

In 2014, ESPN reported on Michael Sam's showering habits in the St. Louis Rams locker room, but later apologized that it "failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports."[80]

In contrast to frequent homophobic attitudes within the sport, media coverage has generally been very favorable towards openly gay athletes, often describing gay athletes as gay and even heroic. However, positive coverage would often use implicitly homophobic language emphasizing the contrast between gay players and straight players.[81] While this framing emphasizing progress is most common in media, common framing also includes reporters highlighting the continued lack of acceptance among players, with few active players publicly supporting players such as Nassib.

Players

[edit]
Players who came out
Name Highest level Position Ref
Mason Darrow NCAA Division I Offensive lineman [82]
Wade Davis NFL Cornerback [83]
Scott Frantz NCAA Division I Offensive tackle [84]
Ed Gallagher NCAA Division I Offensive tackle [85]
Alan Gendreau NCAA Division I Placekicker [86]
Kwame Harris NFL Offensive tackle [87]
Bradley Kim NCAA Division I Defensive back [52]
David Kopay NFL Running back [88]
Ray McDonald NFL Running back [89]
Conner Mertens NCAA Division III Placekicker [38]
Carl Nassib NFL Defensive end [90]
Ryan O'Callaghan NFL Offensive tackle [91]
Wyatt Pertuset NCAA Division III Wide receiver [53][54]
Jeff Rohrer NFL Linebacker [55]
Ryan Russell NFL Defensive end [56]
Michael Sam NFL†§ Defensive end [92]
Chip Sarafin NCAA Division I Offensive lineman [40]
Roy Simmons NFL Guard [93]
Brian Sims NCAA Division II Defensive tackle [94]
Jerry Smith* NFL Tight end [95]
Brad Thorson NFL‡ Offensive lineman [96]
Esera Tuaolo NFL Defensive tackle [97]
Colton Underwood NFL§ Tight end [98]
Jacob Van Ittersum NCAA Division II Offensive lineman [99]
Alissa Wykes NWFA Running back [3]
Theodore Lisoski AFBN Linebacker [100][101]

* Posthumously outed
† Selected in the NFL draft, never played in the league
‡ Placed on injured reserve, never played in the league
§ Practice squad member, never played in the league

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Stockwell, Anne; McAuley, J. V. (December 24, 1996). "Tackling the NFL closet". The Advocate (723): 51–55. ISSN 0001-8996.
  2. ↑ Diaz, George (April 27, 2013). "Orlando gay kicker wants to put boot to NFL stereotypes". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 DuLong, Jessica (February 19, 2002). "Out in the field: pro footballer Alissa Wykes talks about breaking new ground for out lesbian athletes--and the flak she's gotten along the way". The Advocate. pp. 32–35. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  4. ↑ Garber, Greg (January 15, 1999). "Still waiting for a hero". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 Wise, Mike (April 27, 2013). "Dave Kopay knows what questions should be asked by NFL". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ Corcoran, Tully (January 28, 2014). "'I'm bisexual': Kicker becomes first CFB player to publicly come out publicly". FoxSports.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  7. ↑ "College football player Conner Mertens comes out". Outsports. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  8. ↑ Zeigler, Cyd (August 13, 2014). "Arizona State football offensive lineman Chip Sarafin comes out as gay". Outsports. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ Middlehurst-Schwartz, Michael. "Raiders' Carl Nassib comes out as first openly gay active NFL player". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Smith, Michael David (September 14, 2021). "Carl Nassib becomes first openly gay player to play in NFL game". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Carl Nassib becomes the first openly gay player to play in a NFL postseason game". GAY TIMES. January 16, 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Carl Nassib Makes History: First Openly Gay Player To Play In NFL Postseason Game". January 16, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Zeigler, Cyd (April 23, 2013). "Coming out kicking: Openly gay former college kicker tries for the NFL". Outsports. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 Branch, John (April 23, 2013). "A Potential Pioneer, Just Looking for a Job". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Vince Lombardi Was Ahead of His Time". Acme Packing Company. May 7, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Former Pro Football Player Reflects on Brokeback Romance with Teammate". gawker.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  17. ↑ "'The NFL Beat': Lombardi and Kopay". Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  18. ↑ "45 years ago, Lombardi accepted a gay player". Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Vince Lombardi accepted gay players on his team". May 3, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  20. ↑ Bader, Jerry (February 12, 2014). "Would Vince Lombardi Gave Drafted a Gay Player". Right Wisconsin. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Jerry Smith Stats - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  22. ↑ Maraniss, David (1999). When Pride Still Mattered, A Life of Vince Lombardi. Simon & Schuster. p. 344. ISBN 978-0-618-90499-0. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  23. ↑ Maraniss 1999, p. 469.
  24. ↑ Klemko, Robert (June 23, 2017). "What happened to Ray McDonald, Washington's first-round draft pick in 1967?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  25. ↑ Maraniss 1999, p. 468.
  26. ↑ Maraniss 1999, p. 471.
  27. ↑ Garber, Greg (January 15, 1999). "Still waiting for a hero". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Jerry Smith loses struggle against AIDS". Free-Lance Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Associated Press. October 16, 1986. p. 11.
  29. ↑ Miriam Walker-Khan (February 1, 2021). "LGBT+ History Month: Six LGBT+ sportspeople you should know more about". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  30. ↑ "AIDS kills NFL's Smith". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. UPI. October 16, 1986. p. D3.
  31. 1 2 "NFL Documentary Profiles Closeted Gay Player". Bilerico Report / LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  32. ↑ Smith, Brian T. (December 26, 2013). "Two members of 1993 Oilers were gay; teammates knew, didn't care". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013.
  33. ↑ Hipp, Deb (October 31, 2002). "Dreams of Fields". The Pitch. Kansas City. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  34. ↑ Garfield, Simon (May 4, 2003). "Is anyone out there?". The Observer. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  35. ↑ Zeigler Jr., Cyd (April 27, 2009). "Former college football captain was openly gay". Outsports.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.
  36. ↑ Zeigler, Cyd (August 24, 2011). "Moment #43: Brian Sims tells his story nine years later". outsports.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013.
  37. 1 2 Watson, Graham (April 23, 2013). "Former Middle Tennessee kicker was openly gay with teammates, coaches". yahoo.com. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  38. 1 2 "Active college player comes out". ESPN.com. January 29, 2014. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014.
  39. 1 2 Connelly, Chris (February 9, 2014). "Mizzou's Michael Sam says he's gay". ESPN. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  40. 1 2 Fischer, Bryan (August 13, 2014). "Arizona State OL Chip Sarafin announces he's gay". National Football League. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  41. ↑ Zeigler, Cyd (September 15, 2015). "One of the Guys". Outsports. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  42. ↑ Freeman, Mike (April 27, 2013). "Teammates, coaches knew of gay NFL player and didn't care". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013.
  43. ↑ "Advocate: Players may come out". ESPN.com. April 27, 2013. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013.
  44. ↑ Battista, Judy (April 24, 2013). "N.F.L. Will Advise Teams on Discrimination Policy". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013.
  45. 1 2 Belson, Ken (May 10, 2014). "In Historic Pick, Rams Take Michael Sam in Final Round of Draft". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Rams reportedly took Michael Sam in 2014 draft in deal with NFL". Las Vegas Review-Journal. March 24, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  47. ↑ Carter, Chelsea J. (May 10, 2014). "Michael Sam makes history: First openly gay player drafted in the NFL". CNN. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  48. ↑ Farmer, Sam (August 30, 2014). "Michael Sam, NFL's first openly gay player, is cut by St. Louis Rams". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 31, 2014.
  49. ↑ Wagoner, Nick (August 30, 2014). "Michael Sam cut by Rams". ESPN. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Scott Frantz of Kansas State Wildcats details telling teammates he is gay". Espn.com. July 13, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  51. ↑ Zeigler, Cyd (September 4, 2017). "Big XII football team with openly gay player wins by 36 points. So much for distractions". Outsports. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  52. 1 2 "Air Force defensive back Bradley Kim is first openly gay service academy player". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 28, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  53. 1 2 Buzinski, Jim (September 27, 2018). "Gay college football player now an Ohio high school coach". MSN.com.
  54. 1 2 Buzinski, Jim (August 29, 2019). "There are 7 openly gay or bi college football players this season". Outsports. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  55. 1 2 Mallozzi, Vincent M. (November 14, 2018). "Former Cowboys Linebacker Jeff Rohrer Is to Marry Partner". The New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  56. 1 2 Russell, Ryan (August 29, 2019). "No distractions: An NFL veteran opens up on his sexuality". ESPN. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  57. ↑ Belson, Ken (June 21, 2021). "Raiders' Carl Nassib Announces He's Gay, an N.F.L. First". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  58. ↑ "NFL: Carl Nassib becomes first active player to come out as gay". BBC.com. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  59. ↑ Selbe, Nick (October 19, 2022). "Hampton DB Becomes First HBCU Football Player to Come Out as Gay". Sports Illustrated.
  60. ↑ "Byron Perkins Makes History As First Out Football Player at HBCU". www.advocate.com. October 20, 2022.
  61. ↑ Morton, Danelle (June 10, 2013). "Out on the edge". ESPN The Magazine. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013.
  62. ↑ Covitz, Randy (November 2, 2009). "Gay athletes don't fit in what is perceived as a homophobic NFL". VictoriaAdvocate.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  63. ↑ Holmes, Linda (February 10, 2014). "Why The 'Man's-Man Game' Is An Insult To Men". NPR. Retrieved May 7, 2024. Furthermore, the faux-bummed suggestion that because [gay slurs] are common, gay dudes can't be in the locker room essentially suggests that until people stop denigrating you, you have to kind of leave them their space, because what's the other option?
  64. ↑ Lutz, Tom (June 22, 2021). "'Proud of you': NFL players welcome Carl Nassib's decision to come out". The Guardian. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  65. ↑ Rogers, Martin (April 18, 2012). "Report: Niners CB says openly gay players would not be welcomed on the team". yahoo.com. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  66. 1 2 Burke, Chris (April 23, 2013). "Alan Gendreau trying to make NFL as openly gay kicker". SI.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013.
  67. ↑ Wetzel, Dan (January 31, 2013). "Chris Culliver's remarks, Manti Te'o episode make it hard for active gay athlete to go public". yahoo.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013.
  68. ↑ "Chris Culliver sorry for 'ugly' remarks". ESPN.com. January 31, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  69. ↑ Wesseling, Chris (January 30, 2013). "Chris Culliver apologizes for anti-gay comments". National Football League. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  70. ↑ Breech, John (January 30, 2013). "49ers' Chris Culliver: Openly gay player not welcome". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  71. ↑ Peter, Josh. "'Life's great now' for Ryan O'Callaghan, the ex-NFL player who came out as gay". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  72. ↑ Wakefield, Lily (August 28, 2019). "Every NFL team has gay or bisexual players, retired player claims". Pinknews. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  73. ↑ "NFL in New CBA Bans Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation". Sports Business Daily. September 27, 2011. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018.
  74. ↑ McManus, Jane (June 19, 2013). "Rookies to hear about sexuality". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2013.
  75. ↑ Goessling, Ben (January 2, 2014). "Kluwe: Cut due to outspoken views". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014.
  76. ↑ NFL (June 28, 2021). "If you love this game, you are welcome here..." Twitter. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  77. ↑ "About 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ Adults Say They're More Likely to Watch the NFL Following Carl Nassib's Announcement That He Is Gay". Morning Consult. June 25, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  78. ↑ "LGBT Inclusion in Sports". Center for American Progress. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  79. ↑ Masters, Troy (February 12, 2022). "The NFL embraces LGBTQ+ inclusion ahead of Super Bowl LVI". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  80. ↑ Curtis, Bryan (December 12, 2014). "The Kiss". Grantland. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014.
  81. ↑ Academy, U. S. Sports (April 8, 2022). "Examining Media Framing of Openly gay NFL Player Carl Nassib". The Sport Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  82. ↑ "One of the Guys". Outsports.com. SB Nation. September 15, 2015.
  83. ↑ "Wade Davis Talks about Being Gay: Former NFL player working with LGBTQ youth for the first time". Outsports. June 5, 2011. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  84. ↑ "Scott Frantz cherishes acceptance after informing teammates he's gay". ESPN. July 13, 2017.
  85. ↑ "Ed Gallagher, who turned suicide attempt to activism, dies". Outsports. May 13, 2005. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  86. ↑ Branch, John (April 23, 2013). "A Potential Pioneer, Just Looking for a Job". New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  87. ↑ "Domestic charges for Kwame Harris". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 29, 2013. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013.
  88. ↑ Garber, Greg (January 15, 1999). "Still waiting for a hero". ESPN. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  89. ↑ Kroeger, Brooke (2004). Passing: When People Can't Be Who They Are. New York: PublicAffairs. p. 238. ISBN 1-58648-287-4.[permanent dead link]
  90. ↑ "Raiders' Carl Nassib comes out as first openly gay active NFL player". USA Today. June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  91. ↑ "Former Patriots and Chiefs tackle Ryan O'Callaghan comes out as gay". Outsports. June 20, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  92. ↑ Sessler, Marc (May 10, 2014). "Michael Sam drafted by St. Louis Rams at No. 249". NFL.com.
  93. ↑ Simmons, Roy; DiMarco, Damon; Fisher, David; Hester, Jimmy (2006). Out of Bounds: Coming Out of Sexual Abuse, Addiction, and My Life of Lies in the NFL Closet. Carroll & Graf Publishers. p. 222. ISBN 0-7867-1681-9.
  94. ↑ Zeigler, Jr., Cyd (April 27, 2009). "Former college football captain was openly gay". Outsports. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  95. ↑ Provenzano, Jim (December 31, 2003). "Who was the first gay football player to play in the Super Bowl?". Windy City Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  96. ↑ "Brad Thorson, former college football player and NFL prospect, comes out as gay". Outsports. July 7, 2014.
  97. ↑ Tuaolo, Esera; Luke Cyphers (October 30, 2002). "Free and Clear". ESPN the Magazine. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  98. ↑ Wertheim, Bonnie (April 14, 2021). "Colton Underwood, 'Bachelor' Star, Comes Out as Gay". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  99. ↑ Paul, Tony (August 7, 2018). "Northwood football player Jacob Van Ittersum comes out as bisexual". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  100. ↑ Lisoski, Theodore (August 6, 2021). "Theodore ramt muren American Football-wereld neer: "Sport is niet homo of hetero"". Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  101. ↑ "After never having played, gay man finds semi-pro football after Asperger's diagnosis". Outsports. April 16, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
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