Latest news with #MichaelSam
Daily Mail
5 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.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Dancing On Ice star ‘dating NFL star after sliding into DMs' – and they've already been on a romantic holiday
A DANCING On Ice star is 'dating an NFL star' after sliding into his DMs - and they've already been on a romantic holiday. Colin Grafton is riding high as one of the Dancing On Ice pro skaters. 7 7 7 The star is said to have been inspired to skate after watching the 1998 winter Olympics. Since then he has competed all over the world in prestigious sporting events - and has made a name for himself on Dancing On Ice. And it appears the star has found a special someone too, away from the rink. Colin is rumoured to be dating former NFL star Michael Sam, after they connected via social media. A source said: 'Colin has been single for a while now and wanted to remain single but he found something different about Michael. 'They met in September last year after Michael slid into Colin's DMs. 'They're enjoying time together and Michael whisked Colin off on a whirlwind romance trip to Barcelona and they've been on lavish days. He even rented him a fancy boat for his birthday.' And it looks like things are heating up yet again between the pair, with Michael planning to visit Colin in Japan for work. Colin looked content in his photos from the trip to Barcelona. Watch as Dancing On Ice's Colin lifts the lid on show rehearsals The star was seen posing in a white shirt and beige trousers while sipping Champagne on board the yacht. His rumoured new beau, Michael Sam, made history after he became the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL. He started his college career at Missouri having attended the school from 2009 to 2013. During that time, the 35-year-old played for the Missouri Tigers and competed in the Big 12 conference. During his college career, Sam accumulated 123 tackles, including 36 for loss, 21 sacks, six forced fumbles and two intercepted passes. Sam came out ahead of the 2014 NFL draft after his first senior season at Missouri. In doing so he became the first publically gay player to be drafted into the NFL. Before the draft, he had indicated that he wanted to make his sexuality public and therefore decided to reveal the news in interviews he did with the New York Times and ESPN. Sam told at the time: "I am an openly, proud gay man. "I understand how big this is. It's a big deal. No one has done this before. And it's kind of a nervous process. 'But I know what I want to be, I want to be a football player in the NFL." In a statement at the time President Barack Obama said that he "congratulates Michael Sam, the Rams and the NFL for taking an important step forward today in our Nation's journey". Meanwhile, Colin made his Dancing On Ice debut back in 2023. His first partner was drag queen star The Vivienne. For the 2024 series Colin is partnered up with Claire Sweeney for the latest series. The skater previously revealed how he gets nervous while performing live on Dancing on Ice, but he gets lost in the adrenaline of the performance. Speaking to the Express, he said "We all get nervous, if you're not nervous at all, it's very rare. But I think nervousness is a good thing because that adrenaline keeps you going. "It's a weird feeling because you are performing in a studio for a live audience, you kind of just get wrapped up in that moment of the crowd cheering for you." 7 7 7
