Gay football player

Running back Dave Kopay, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers inwould play for five teams before hanging up his jersey in He would become the first major professional athlete to come out in any sport, telling his story to the Washington Star in -- three years after his retirement.

So, with more and more football stars coming out and authentically living in their truths, has the future finally charged onto the turf? The offensive tackle would be outed publicly in after a domestic dispute with a boyfriend landed him in jail.

Kopay released a best-selling autobiography a couple years after that, but find himself an outcast in the football world for decadesdenied a chance to coach because of his sexuality even in the late s. This is a list of notable, openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, and queer -identifying athletes associated with American Football, namely the NFL.

This includes those who were posthumously outed. Coach Vince Lombardi had apparently confided in Smith that he knew of his sexuality but would never let it impact him negatively; Lombardi's brother was also gay. He eventually revealed he'd had a short relationship with a closeted Jerry Smith.

He graced the cover of The Advocate a few months later.

16 former NFL players : Veteran pass rusher Carl Nassib, who in became the NFL's first openly gay player to play in a regular-season game, announced his retirement on Wednesday after seven seasons

In ensuing years, the player's homsexuality would be documented posthumously, notably in a short NFL documentary. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. When Kansas State offensive tackle and NFL hopeful Scott Frantz came out to the nation as gayhe shared that his teammates to whom he'd come out earlier had warmly received the news, a sign the most alpha of locker rooms may finally be ready for equality.

But even in that final interview, he declined to "elaborate on his life style," as the Post put it. Yet for the third consecutive season, there will be none in Pro football is becoming more inclusive of male players in the LGBTQ+ community. Smith was part of a star Redskins lineup during the late s.

After a career-ending injury inhe battled painkiller abuse and even wrote a suicide note, but after counseling decided to come out first to his family and then to the general public. Davis said he concealed his sexuality from teammates while he played. That's a quick shift considering retired NFL player Ryan O'Callaghan who came out shortly before Frantz shared that as recently as he'd contemplated taking his own life as a better option than letting his sexuality be disclosed while he still played ball.

His career 60 touchdowns would set a record among tight ends that would stand for 26 years. Here's a list of players in college and pro football who have proved you can be gay or bi and still run the gauntlet.

Gay NFL Players The :

There have been 16 gay or bi players come out publicly in the NFL, which is in its th season. Kwame Harris played five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and one with Oakland Raiders before retiring from the sport after the season. A defensive tackle, journeyman Esera Tualo would play for five teams over nine seasons, with his longest run on the Minnesota Vikings.

Ryan O'Callaghan, an offensive tackle with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, came out to OutSports in June ofrevealing that he had long contemplated suicide should he lose the chance to hide his sexuality with the mask of a macho sport.

He would come out to HBO Sports inwhere he discussed laughing off gay jokes and slurs for years while he played ball. So Coach Vince Lombardi knew McDonald was gay when he took over leadership of the team inbut made clear there would be no discrimination in his locker roomthose close to the legend say.

Six years after playing his last game, a Super Bowl, he came out on Donahue in Simmons, who was HIV-positive, died of complications from pneumonia in InWashington Redskins running back Ray McDonald was arrested for having sex with a man in public, just a year after the Redskins had drafted him in the first round.

List of LGBTQ American football players For a more in-depth discussion of the topic go here: Homosexuality in American Football. However, Lombardi would eventually fire McDonald for showing up late to a meeting, and the back would never play pro ball again.