Latest news with #CarlNassib
CBS News
a day ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Carl Nassib, NFL's 1st openly gay active player and West Chester native, has jersey added to Smithsonian
The jersey of West Chester native Carl Nassib is now on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, honoring his achievement as the first openly gay player to appear in an NFL regular-season game. The Malvern Prep alum made the announcement while appearing on The Pivot Podcast, hosted by former NFL stars Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder on May 6. The jersey on display is Nassib's No. 94 Las Vegas Raiders jersey from the team's 2021 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens — the first game he played after publicly coming out as gay in a social media post in June 2021. In that game, he made a critical strip sack on Lamar Jackson in overtime that helped lead the Raiders to a 33-27 victory. The jersey has been on display since May 21. "They reached out to me last year and said they wanted to add it to the collection. I said, absolutely. This is huge," Nassib said on the podcast. "I love museums. I love history. I love football. I love the gays." During the podcast, Nassib credited his late uncle, who was also gay and passed away from cancer, for inspiring him to share his truth. "When I came out to him, he said, 'This is the biggest weight off my chest. I'm not the only one,'" Nassib recalled. "That really charged me. I felt like I had to do this." Nassib walked on to Penn State's football team in 2011 but it wasn't until his last two years at Happy Valley that he started rewriting the Nittany Lions record books. In 2015, he set the Penn State single-season sack record with 15.5 sacks, was named a unanimous All-American, and received both the Lombardi Award and Nagurski-Woodson Award as the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year. Nassib played seven seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders before retiring in 2023. During the podcast, Nassib also shared that he grew up an Eagles fan and is a big Taylor Swift fan.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carl Nassib, the first openly gay active NFL player, has No. 94 Raiders jersey displayed at Smithsonian
Carl Nassib became the first openly gay active NFL player in 2021. A few years later, his historic announcement is being immortalized in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Nassib's No. 94 Oakland Raiders jersey is being displayed at the museum in its "Entertainment Nation" display. While Nassib's jersey was first put up May 21, the NFL tweeted about the honor Wednesday. The jersey is the one worn by Nassib during the team's Week 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens in 2021. It was the first jersey worn by Nassib after he came out as gay. Advertisement Nassib initially revealed the Smithsonian news during an appearance on "The Pivot" podcast — hosted by former NFL player Ryan Clark — in May. During that interview, Nassib talked about his uncle, who served as an inspiration for Nassib to come out as gay. Nassib spoke to the Washington Post about his jersey being displayed in the Smithsonian, saying it was "really important that gay stories get told and remembered." Nassib's announcement was met with support around the league. The Raiders, Nassib's former college coach and his former teammate Saquon Barkley all offered support for Nassib at the time. Nassib, a third-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2016 NFL Draft, played seven seasons as a defensive end in the NFL. After spending his first two seasons in Cleveland, Nassib joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two years before signing a three-year, $25 million deal with the Raiders. He spent two years with the team before returning to the Buccaneers in 2022. Nassib registered 187 combined tackles and 25.5 sacks over his career.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Carl Nassib, gay NFL pioneer, honored by Smithsonian
Carl Nassib, the first openly gay player to play in a regular-season NFL game, was enshrined in a new exhibit at the National Museum of American History on Tuesday, commemorating a historic moment for LGBTQ athletes amid the Trump Administration's attack on DEI initiatives. The exhibit features his No. 94 Las Vegas Raiders jersey from the 2021 season opener, when his clutch strip sack in overtime keyed a 33-27 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Queer Cincinnati Bengals exec reveals why he kept secret closeted for decades during NFL career
The NFL didn't have any openly LGBTQ + players when Jack Brennan took a job with the Cincinnati Bengals ' media relations staff in 1994. But, as Brennan ascended up the department's depth chart before ultimately retiring in 2017, a few came out of the closet. There was Michael Sam, an openly gay linebacker who was drafted in 2014 but failed to make the 53-man rosters with the St. Louis Rams or Dallas Cowboys. Later came Carl Nassib, a Las Vegas Raiders defensive end, came out publicly in 2021. Others like offensive linemen Ryan O'Callaghan and Kwame Harris revealed their sexuality after retiring. Brennan, who describes himself as queer, falls into the latter group. An 'excellent human being,' according to legendary reporter Peter King, Brennan penned the upcoming autobiography, Football Sissy: A Cross-Dressing Memoir, which details the obstacles he and others have faced in a league environment that's often inhospitable to the LGBTQ+ community. 'I didn't come out until I left the NFL,' the native Texan and lifelong football fanatic told USA Today, 'so I guess I felt that way.' Brennan stressed to USA Today's Mike Freeman his belief that the NFL commissioner's office and the Bengals are both tolerant organizations. Regardless, the father of three and his wife were still nervous the league or team could learn about his crossdressing. Even if Bengals owner Mike Brown wouldn't fire him, players and coaches might feel uncomfortable working with Brennan, and that could result in him being reassigned. 'When I was working,' he told The Athletic in 2021, 'I was terribly afraid of people finding out, but it never crippled me enough to stop dressing. I'm obviously not as afraid now, but culture breeds self-shaming in queers. 'It's particularly hard to come out to male friends I've known for years in very heterosexist and traditionally male environments. The process is really only just beginning now.' Speaking to USA Today for Monday's piece, Brennan acknowledged his difficulties with the NFL environment. 'Sometimes people would make slurs or insensitive comments in the office, or in the locker room,' he said. Brennan was also concerned that his presence in the locker room could become a distraction. 'Would the Bengals think it was inappropriate for me to be walking around the locker room around players not always wearing clothes?' Brennan asked Freeman. But in coming out in the years since his retirement, Brennan now sees the process as cathartic. More importantly, he believes the act of being honest will help others do the same. 'I wanted to write something good and informative,' Brennan told USA Today. 'I also wanted to write something that would help people. I think one thing I wanted to say was if you're in the LGBTQ community, and you want to help other people in it, you can do so by coming out.' As for the current NFL, Brennan credits the league with incremental progress. Still, he's concerned the Trump Administration's efforts to erase protections for LGBTQ+ people, not to mention their visibility, could be adopted by the NFL's billionaire owners. 'I just hope the NFL doesn't,' Brennan said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Who is Carl Nassib? All you need to know about the first openly gay player in the NFL
Carl Nassib, first openly gay player to play in NFL games (Getty Images) Carl Nassib's journey from NFL standout to history-maker just took another meaningful turn. His Raiders jersey will now be permanently displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. 'I just want to take a quick moment to say that I'm gay,' Nassib had revealed in a heartfelt 2021 Instagram video. His courage not only broke barriers in the NFL but continues to inspire inclusion and acceptance nationwide. All about Carl Nassib, first openly gay player in the NFL Early life and background Born on April 12, 1993, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Carl Paul Nassib grew up in a football-oriented family. Attended Malvern Preparatory School before enrolling at Penn State University, where he walked on to the football team. College Career Nassib started as a walk-on at Penn State, earning a scholarship and becoming a standout player. In 2015, his lone season as a starter, he led the NCAA with 15.5 sacks and won the Lombardi Award as the nation's top college lineman or linebacker. His performance showcased his work ethic and grit, traits he later emphasized as key to success in football regardless of personal identity. NFL career Selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Nassib played seven seasons across three teams: Cleveland Browns (2016–2017): Played two seasons, part of a challenging 0-16 season in 2017. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018–2019, 2022): Had two stints, totaling three seasons. Las Vegas Raiders (2020–2021): Played two seasons, during which he made his historic announcement. Over 100 games, Nassib recorded 25.5 sacks, 187 tackles, 59 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles, and one interception. On September 13, 2021, in a Monday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Nassib made a game-changing strip-sack on quarterback Lamar Jackson in overtime, leading to a Raiders' 33-27 victory. This marked him as the first openly gay player to appear in an NFL regular-season game. Coming out and historic milestone On June 21, 2021, Nassib came out as gay via an Instagram video from his home in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He stated, 'I just want to take a quick moment to say that I'm gay. I've been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest.' He emphasized the importance of representation and visibility, hoping that coming out would one day be unnecessary. Carl Nassib opens up on his football journey & coming out as NFL's first Gay player| The Pivot Nassib revealed he agonized over the decision for 15 years, describing himself as a private person not seeking attention. A pivotal moment came during a conversation with his openly gay uncle, who was dying of cancer, which inspired Nassib to come out publicly to support others. A humorous incident during a 2020 game against the Browns, where players reacted negatively to Nassib using 'gay' as a derogatory term, also reassured him of allies in the NFL. His announcement was widely praised by the NFL, teammates, fans, and media. The NFL issued a statement supporting Nassib's courage and commitment to equality, and the Raiders matched his $100,000 donation to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth. While Michael Sam was the first openly gay player drafted by the NFL (St. Louis Rams, 2014), he never played in a regular-season game. Nassib's active participation set a new precedent, building on Sam's groundwork. Post-NFL career and legacy Nassib announced his retirement on September 6, 2023, calling it a 'bittersweet' moment. He shifted focus to his company, Rayze, a social media platform connecting volunteers with nonprofits, inspired by his volunteering experiences with the Buccaneers. Nassib has continued supporting The Trevor Project, including announcing a Cleveland Browns draft pick in 2024 alongside the organization's founder. He also works with the NFL on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, leveraging his unique perspective as an openly gay former player. On May 21, 2025, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History began displaying Nassib's No. 94 Raiders jersey from the 2021 Ravens game, recognizing his historic contribution to 'Athletic Achievement and Social Progress.' Nassib's coming out was a landmark for the NFL and men's professional sports, demonstrating that openly gay athletes could thrive without compromising their careers. Media analyses noted widespread support, suggesting a shift toward inclusive masculinity in sports. His visibility inspired others, including Jacksonville Jaguars assistant strength coach Kevin Maxen, who came out in 2023. Nassib's actions provided a model for future athletes, emphasizing personal authenticity and professional success. While Nassib remains the only NFL player to come out while active, his experience highlighted growing acceptance in sports, though challenges like homophobia persist. He expressed hope that more players would come out on their own terms. Nassib described football as a 'punishing industry' where work ethic, perseverance, and grit outweigh personal identity. He valued the NFL's support and aimed to foster a compassionate culture. Known for financial savvy, Nassib gained attention during HBO's Hard Knocks for advising teammates on savings, reflecting his practical approach to life. Carl Nassib's journey from a Penn State walk-on to an NFL trailblazer underscores his resilience and commitment to authenticity. His historic coming out in 2021, impactful play, and ongoing philanthropy through Rayze and The Trevor Project have cemented his legacy as a pioneer for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports. His Smithsonian recognition ensures his story will inspire future generations. Also Read: "Queens supporting queens": Fans go wild as Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez spotted having intense heart-to-heart during cozy dinner night out in NYC
