Latest news with #Nassib
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.
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
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
History-Making Carl Nassib Reflects as His Jersey Heads to the Smithsonian
In the world of pro football, news generally follows a set trajectory. Most games are played on Sunday; the majority of practice news comes out on Wednesday and Thursday. Fall is the busiest time of the year, while late spring and early summer is usually quiet between the draft and training camps. On Monday, June 21, 2021, though, there was an unexpectedly historic piece of NFL news. Carl Nassib, a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, had shared a post on Instagram. And rather than showing off a new car or sharing platitudes, he was making an announcement. "What's up people," Nassib posted on Instagram. "I'm at my house in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I'm gay. I've been meaning to do this for a while now, but finally feel comfortable getting it off my chest. I really have the best life, the best family, friends and job a guy can ask for." At that moment, he became the first active NFL player to come out as gay. And now, nearly four years later, his Raiders jersey will be heading to Washington, D.C., to take its place in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. "It is one of the coolest things I've ever experienced. I love it. And I wish I had some, you know, prophetic answer [about its significance]", Nassib told Newsweek. "But I just feel maybe like, down the line, I'll appreciate the importance of it a little bit more. Sometimes I feel like when you're in it, you're just super excited, and you don't really get the full impact of it. And that's kind of how I felt with football when I was playing, and I was just having fun. "And now looking back, I was like, 'Oh, wait, that was really, really incredible.' But to have my jersey in the Smithsonian is something I never expected, something I never really worked for, wasn't really a goal of mine. "It's just something that came up and I'm super thankful for. I think it's an homage to all the people in my community that came before me that put me in a position to be able to come out and be able to play the sport that I love and be who I was all day every day." But as any sports fan can tell you, no major accomplishment happens in the blink of an eye. There's usually plenty that happened behind the scenes, far from the big-money contracts and adoring fans. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty From Walk-On to the NFL On the athletic side of things, Nassib found himself in good company. Both his parents were college athletes, and his older brother, Ryan, played college football at Syracuse before being drafted by the New York Giants in 2013. Carl's road to the pros, however, was a little different. Without any offers from big-time football programs, he walked on at Penn State. Despite some bumps in the road—Nassib didn't play during his first two years on campus and, as recounted on The Pivot Podcast, head coach Bill O'Brien said that him even making the scout team would be a miracle—his confidence never wavered. "I think it came down to a few things. I think the first thing was positive self-talk. I just had a very innate drive to succeed," Nassib said. "I just always felt like winning was something that I was supposed to do. And I hate losing more than I like winning. Second was, I just had a really good support group from my older brother and my dad. There were a lot of times throughout my football career that I just wanted to say, 'Hey, I'm done. My coaches aren't playing me. My team stinks. Whatever it is, I'm just going to do something else.' And having that motivating factor, you need people to say, 'Hey, don't give up. This stinks right now, but you got to keep going.' "And the third piece was that my older brother was also a D1 football player and in the NFL. So, it was cool to always look up to him and to compete with him a little bit." Eventually, things turned around, and the Pennsylvania native's conviction was justified. Playing time was no longer hard to come by, and his stats started piling up. In 2015, he earned All-American, All-Big 10 and Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year honors; he also took home three national awards (the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Lott Trophy and the Ted Hendricks Award). Perhaps most importantly, Nassib had shown enough to follow in his brother's footsteps and be drafted into the NFL. If that was the end of the story, it would be worth telling from an underdog perspective. In Nassib's case, though, football wasn't the be-all and end-all. Coming Out and Making History "For a long time, just football was my own, my only priority being the best that I could be," Nassib explained. "When I started succeeding in football and I started getting really good and I was getting to the top, like, I kind of wanted to share life successes with somebody. And I was like, you know, 'I want to make sure that like, I'm with who I want to be with.' " By the time he took to Instagram in 2021, Nassib had already come out to those closest to him. That provided a valuable touchstone for sharing his true self with the wider world. "Definitely coming out to my friends and family earlier, like before coming out publicly, that made it so much easier," the former Raider remembered. "I mean, a lot more fun and, just, it became a celebration. Once you come out to your core group of people, then it gets kind of easier and easier and you can turn it into a celebration. A lot of people, when they're coming out of the closet, they feel like it's like going to be a devastating moment. "They feel that it's going to be cataclysmic and that they're going to lose friends, but actually it's the opposite. When you come out, it's a time for celebrating because you can actually be your whole self with your friends and family and you never have to keep anything from them again. And so that's just something I tell people all the time that 'Hey, it's a celebration and it's not really as scary as you think it is.'" That brings us to the 2021 Instagram post that changed everything. Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a statement saying the NFL was proud of Nassib; then-president Joe Biden tweeted out his congratulations. The announcement was the talk of the sports world. To Carl Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama – two prominent, inspiring athletes who came out this week: I'm so proud of your courage. Because of you, countless kids around the world are seeing themselves in a new light today. — President Biden Archived (@POTUS46Archive) June 23, 2021 But, you may be wondering, why use a simple social media post for such a big announcement? Fittingly, it was an authentic way to share some personal news that, while important, was still a piece of a larger life. "I just thought that was authentic to me. I thought that I am a million other things, you know what I mean? I'm a football player that happens to be gay," Nassib said. "I didn't want it to feel like it was some massively dramatic moment. It was like, 'Hey, this is who I am. You know, we're keep it moving.' I do a lot of things. And I wanted to show like, 'Hey, I'm in a great place in my life. I have the best life that I possibly can.'" There was more to the post than just his announcement, though. Nassib also made a donation to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ young people and used his caption to bring attention to their cause. "I knew that a lot of people would be hearing about it," he explained. "So, I wanted to make sure that I put some of that attention toward The Trevor Project. There's a lot of ways to stifle a group of people. You can convert them, you can criminalize them, you can erase them from history, and then you can make life so tough for them that when they're kids, they want to hurt themselves. So, the Trevor Project provides services. They train, hire and support the people that answer those phone calls every single day." And that wasn't a one-time thing, either. Nassib and Peggy Rajski announced a pick during the 2024 NFL draft on behalf of The Trevor Project; Nassib has also joined the board of directors. A few months after his Instagram announcement, the Raiders opened the 2021 campaign on Monday Night Football. Nassib's black jersey from that night is now displayed for all to see in Washington, D.C. More Than Just a Museum Exhibit When fans think of someone who's played professional sports at the highest level, it's easy to think they've seen and done it all. That's not the case for Nassib, at least when it comes to his journey to the Smithsonian. "I don't get hyped up for things. And I am so jazzed about this. I love museums. I love football," he explained. "I mean, damn, it's really, really cool. That they thought it was a good piece. It was a good story." But there's more to it than just a good story. Enshrining something in a museum means it becomes part of the discourse. "And what people forget is that history isn't just an objective point of view. It's actually just what's get it's just what gets told," he added. "The Smithsonian is doing a good job of curating good stories that, you know, speak to all different walks of life in America, because we are a big melting pot. And so, I do really appreciate the Smithsonian standing by that mission, telling stories that matter." With pro football behind him, Nassib has other focuses. In addition to sitting on Trevor Project's board, he's also the founder and CEO of Rayze, which aims to provide "an easier way for people to give back" by connecting corporations, nonprofits and volunteers. Nassib has a growth mindset; striving to make a difference on the gridiron has given way to making a difference in the wider world. His jersey being preserved as a piece of American history can be a piece of that puzzle. "I hope that next month during Pride Month--it's World Pride is in D.C.--a lot of people go see it," Nassib said. "And hope they can draw some inspiration that you can really do whatever you want in this life, because we really only have one go of it in this world. People forget that you don't get a redo. You have one life, and you've got to really do the most with it."
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carl Nassib details emotional talk with his dying uncle that inspired him to publicly come out as gay
In 2021, Carl Nassib decided to publicly come out as gay. In doing so, Nassib became the first openly gay active NFL player. That decision took a lot of courage, and Nassib has admitted he battled nerves before finally sending his message out to the world. But Nassib also knew how much his coming out would help others in the same situation. During an appearance on Ryan Clark's "The Pivot" podcast, Nassib opened up about a conversation he had with his dying uncle, and how that played a role in Nassib's decision to come out publicly. While Nassib was playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he received a call from his mom informing him his uncle was on his deathbed due to cancer. Nassib briefly left the team to see his uncle — who was openly gay— in person. Nassib — who was only out to his parents, close friends and siblings at the time — decided to come out to his uncle during that visit. His uncle's response played a major role in Nassib coming out publicly a few years later. "I saw him on his deathbed and he was in a really bad shape and I came out to him. We're from a huge family — I have 44 first cousins — and he was the only gay guy, gay person, in the entire family. When I came out to him, he and his husband were there, and he was like, 'This is the biggest weight off my chest.' He was like, 'I'm not the only one.'" Nassib said those words led him to realize there were probably so many other people out there who felt like his uncle. Nassib's uncle died in 2019. Nassib didn't come out until 2021, though he considered making his announcement earlier. Nassib thought about coming out in 2020 — after he signed a guaranteed contract with the Raiders — but George Floyd's murder and the COVID-19 pandemic led to Nassib delaying that decision until the following year. His announcement was met with plenty of support. The Las Vegas Raiders — Nassib's team at the time — sent out a tweet saying they were proud of Nassib. James Franklin, who coached Nassib at Penn State, and Saquon Barkley, who was one of Nassib's teammates at the school, also sent out supportive messages to the the defensive lineman. Nassib played the 2021 season with the Raiders before going back to the Buccaneers in 2022. He retired from the NFL the following year. In seven seasons, Nassib registered 187 combined tackles and 25.5 sacks. A part of Nassib's historic announcement will be preserved at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The museum will display the jersey Nassib wore against the Baltimore Ravens in 2021. It was the first game in which Nassib appeared after announcing he was gay.
