NFL's first openly gay player Carl Nassib retires with emotional statement
The NFL's first openly gay player will be retiring after seven seasons in the league.
In 2021, during Pride Month, Carl Nassib announced on his social media page he is homosexual and became the first active player to do so. And on Wednesday he took to Instagram to release an emotional statement confirming he will be hanging up his cleats and walking away from the game to focus on running his company called Rayze, an app which links people and nonprofit companies of their interest together.
"This is a bittersweet moment for me but after seven seasons and just over 100 NFL games I am officially retiring from football to focus on my company Rayze," the 30-year-old wrote. "It really feels like just yesterday starting out as a walk-on at Penn State. Football has given me more than I ever could have imagined.
“I can truly hang up my helmet for the last time knowing I gave it everything I had. Growing up I loved how fun football was. I loved the pursuit of perfection. I loved the small window where every player has to chase their dreams. It makes it all the more exciting if you get there. It was always my dream to play in the NFL, even as a walk-on, and I really feel like the luckiest guy on the planet."
After coming out as gay, Nassib donated $100,000 to The Trevor Project, an organisation invented to help young LGBTQ members with crisis intervention and suicide prevention. Nassib's college career began by enrolling at Pennsylvania State University as a walk on and he represented the Penn State Nittany Lions.
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After not playing for the first two years, he played in 10 games as a sophomore (second year) in 2013 and recorded 12 tackles and one sack. As a junior Nassib appeared in all 13 games and had seven tackles and one sack before he became a starter in his senior year. In his final season, he reached 10 sacks in just six games to begin the year, and he would go on to earn a third round NFL Draft pick in 2016.
He began his NFL career with two seasons at the Cleveland Browns before the edge rusher spent two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he averaged 12.5 sacks. The NFL athlete signed for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, and spent two campaigns with the AFC West team before re-joining the Bucs last season, playing 13 games.
Nassib is bowing out from the sport after spending seven seasons in the NFL (Getty Images)Over the course of his NFL career, Nassib averaged 25.5 sacks, 59 QB hits, 187 tackles, four forced fumbles and an interception. "Thank you to all my coaches, teammates, trainers and staff throughout the years,” Nassib added.
“Shout out to Bobby Slater, Tim Bream, Joe Sheehan and Chris Cortez for keeping me healthy. Lastly, I want to thank Todd Bowles, James Franklin, Larry Foote, Coach Buck, Clyde Simmons, Larry Johnson and Bob Shoop for coaching up a lanky, know-it-all, try hard guy.
“To anyone who has a dream of being the best, never let anyone convince you it's impossible. Be the best you can be in everything you do. Work hard, make smart decisions and be kind to others. I am so excited for the next chapter of my life and to give Rayze everything I have. I am also looking forward to working alongside the NFL on DEI and exciting philanthropic efforts in the future. Wish me luck! Thank you."
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