Which NFL Player Came Out as Gay?
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We take a look at which NFL player came out as gay, and what this means for the future of the league.
Michael Sam
Michael Sam, an NFL player, came out as gay in February 2014. He was the first openly gay player to be drafted in the NFL. He came out publicly in an interview with ESPN.
First openly gay player in the NFL
Michael Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft, becoming the first publicly gay player drafted in the league. He played college football for the University of Missouri and was named the Associated Press (AP) SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Before his last season at Missouri, Sam came out as gay to his teammates and coaches, making him one of a small number of openly gay active college football players.
On May 10, 2014, Sam was selected by the Rams in the seventh round ( 249th overall ) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was cut by the team on August 30, 2014, but was signed to their practice squad the following day. On February 9, 2015, Sam announced his retirement from professional football through Twitter.
Came out in 2014
Michael Sam came out as gay in 2014, becoming the first openly gay player in the NFL. Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft, but was released during the preseason. He later joined the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, but was again released.
Ryan O’Callaghan
Ryan O’Callaghan, a former NFL offensive lineman, came out as gay in a recent interview. O’Callaghan said that he kept his sexuality a secret for his entire NFL career because he was afraid of the reaction from his teammates and coaches. He also said that he thought about suicide during his NFL career because he was struggling to keep his secret.
Came out in 2017
Ryan O’Callaghan is a former NFL offensive lineman who played for the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs. He came out as gay in 2017, in an interview with Outsports. In the interview, he spoke about his struggles with hiding his sexuality throughout his football career, and how he nearly took his own life when he was at his lowest point. He is now an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and works to destigmatize mental health issues within the LGBTQ+ community.
First openly gay player to come out while still active in the NFL
In 2017, Ryan O’Callaghan came out as gay in an interview with Outsports. He is believed to be the first active NFL player to come out as gay.
O’Callaghan was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2006 and played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009 to 2011. He retired from the NFL in 2012.
In his Outsports interview, O’Callaghan said he had always planned to kill himself after he retired from the NFL because he didn’t want anyone to know he was gay. But he decided to get help after a series of events led him to believe that coming out might be possible.
“I never wanted anyone to know I was gay,” O’Callaghan said. “It was bad enough that I embraced it within myself. I would have taken anything to make it go away.”
O’Callaghan said he hopes his story will help others who are struggling with their sexuality.
“The only way I can help is if people know I exist,” he said. “Football players, gay or straight, should know there’s nothing wrong with being who they are.”
Jason Collins
Jason Collins, a 34-year-old professional basketball player, came out as gay in a Sports Illustrated article published on Monday, April 29, 2013. Collins, who has played in the NBA for 12 seasons, is the first active player in any of the four major U.S. professional leagues to come out as gay.
Came out in 2013
Jason Collins, a center in the National Basketball Association (NBA), came out as gay in 2013. He became the first professional basketball player to openly come out as gay. In April 2014, he signed a free agent contract with the Brooklyn Nets, making him the first openly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American professional team sports leagues.
First openly gay player in the NBA
Jason Collins, who came out as gay in 2013, became the first openly gay player in the NBA. He played center for six different teams during his 12-year career in the league.
