By Keith Mado July 11, 2024 03:40
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Former NFL player Carl Nassib is from a football family. His father, Gilbert Nassib, played college football at the University of Delaware, and his older brother, Ryan, was a quarterback for Syracuse from 2008 to 2015 and is currently an NFL free agent after playing five seasons in the National Football League (NFL).Carl Nassib was a standout college football player at Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions and received Unanimous All-American honors in his final season in 2015.
NFL Journey
Nassib was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Las Vegas Raiders, proving his worth as a defensive end, appearing in over 100 regular and postseason NFL contests during his career.
History Making Announcement
In June 21, 2021, Nassib comes out as gay and becomes the first NFL player to do so while active. The NFL, Penn State, and current and former pro athletes in general, along with much of the sports press, cheered his announcement. This statement came on the heels of Nassib's announcement that he was donating $100,000 to The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to crisis intervention and suicide prevention among LGBTQ youths. His brave choice to stand in his truth and confront decades of homophobia deeply woven into the fabric of men's professional sports undoubtedly led to a profound resolution, strengthening not only the NFL but also changing lives within it and every other community that has been long ignored the LGBTQ+ community.
The Life and Career of Nassib After the Announcement
In September 2023, Nassib retired from the NFL, having just completed his seventh consecutive season in the league. After retirement, he focused on his company, Rayze, and aimed to bring the relationship between nonprofits and individuals onto an online platform. He launched an entrepreneurial initiative and has remained associated with The Trevor Project as his commitment to philanthropy and the LGBTQ+ community continues.
The story of Carl Nassib, who went from playing college football to becoming the first current NFL player to make a statement in his own words and give back off the field, mirrored that he broke barriers such as being an athlete.
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