Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib made history Monday by coming out as gay, becoming the first active NFL player to do so. The 28-year-old, who you may remember from Hard Knocks when HBO chronicled Browns training camp in 2018 (Nassib was seen instructing teammates on their finances, explaining terms like “compound interest”), has received virtually universal support from the NFL, eliciting praise from commissioner Roger Goodell, coach Jon Gruden and former Penn State teammate Saquon Barkley (now of the New York Giants), among others.
Nassib’s landmark announcement has also been great for business, moving plenty of product on Fanatics, where the 6’7” pass-rusher has reigned as the NFL’s top jersey-seller each of the past two days, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Nassib, who has compiled 142 tackles, 20.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception in 73 games since arriving as a third-round pick in 2016, pledged $100,000 to the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth. The NFL announced that it will match Nassib’s donation.
“I really have the best life. I’ve got the best family, friends and job a guy could ask for,” expressed Nassib in a video shared to Instagram Monday. “I hope that one day videos like this and the whole coming out process are just not necessary.”
June is annually celebrated as Pride Month, shining a greater light on the LGBTQ community while promoting inclusion and acceptance of all people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
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