Celebrating Gay NFL Players: Stories of Courage and Pride

Sack. Tight end. Fullback. Wide receiver. Say what you will about football, but if we’re being honest, it’s always sounded pretty gay to us. You’d think between the jocks in jockstraps, potential Taylor Swift sightings, and visible bulges, there’d be more room for gay people in the sport, but we know that just isn’t the case. And it’s not because we gays aren’t good at playing with balls. 

People are often more interested in trying something when they see themselves represented in that something. When it comes to sports — especially football — there aren’t many gay people on the field (that we know of). And it’s not just about representation; it’s about knowing queer people are safe in that space. Safe to be themselves, safe to love who they love, and safe to play without fear of judgment or harm. Up until now, there have only been a handful of gay NFL players, and we’re going to celebrate these gay icons right here. 

Who is Carl Nassib?

Carl Nassib, a defensive end and linebacker, played for seven years across three teams in the NFL. In 2016, Nassib played for the Cleveland Browns directly out of college, where he was named a unanimous All-American. After the Browns, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then the Las Vegas Raiders, and then again for the Buccaneers before retiring in 2023.

Nassib came out during the 2021 season opener while playing for the Raiders, becoming the first openly gay player in NFL history. Of course, several queer NFL players preceded him, but none of them were out while playing.

After coming out on Instagram (a very gay way to make an announcement), Carl Nassib partnered with and donated $100,000 to the Trevor Project to support their suicide prevention efforts for LGBTQ youth. Although he no longer plays for the NFL, he’s still very involved with getting queer kids active in sports. 

Gay NFL players

As of the 2024 season, none of the 1,696 active members of the NFL are openly gay. Of course, that doesn’t mean no famous football players in the NFL are gay, but we can’t know who. As we patiently await our next out gay NFL player, check out these tight ends and wide receivers who paved the way:

1. David Kopay (played 1964–72)

David Kopay played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions, the Washington Commanders, the New Orleans Saints, and the Green Bay Packers. Although he wasn’t out while playing in the NFL, he became one of the first professional athletes to publicly come out as gay after retiring. Kopay paved the way for many LGBTQ athletes who came after him. 

2. Jerry Smith (played 1965–77) 

Jerry Smith was a tight end for the Washington Commanders for 13 seasons. Smith also wasn’t out while in the NFL. In fact, it wasn’t revealed until after his death due to complications from AIDS. His life was later the subject of an NFL Network documentary, Jerry Smith: A Football Life, which highlighted the challenges he faced as a gay football player.

3. Ray McDonald (played 1967–68)

Ray McDonald was a running back for the Washington Commanders. McDonald had initially signed a three-year contract with the team, but his time in the league was cut short due to several factors, including an arrest for having sex with another man in public in Washington, DC.

4. Roy Simmons (played 1979–83) 

Roy Simmons was a guard who played in the NFL for the New York Giants and Washington Commanders (lots of gay stuff happening in Washington). After his time in the NFL, Simmons came out as gay and also revealed his positive HIV status, becoming a staunch advocate for HIV awareness and LGBTQ issues.

5. Jeff Rohrer (played 1982–89)

Rohrer was a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. He married his partner Joshua Ross in 2018, becoming the first NFL player (former or current) to marry a partner of the same sex. 

6. Esera Tuaolo (played 1991–99) 

Esera Tuaolo was a defensive tackle who played for several NFL teams, making it all the way to the Super Bowl with the Atlanta Falcons. After retiring, Tuaolo came out as gay and is an advocate for LGBTQ rights and anti-bullying initiatives.

He’s also a breathtaking singer, competing on season 13 of The Voice. We stan a multitalented king!

7. Kwame Harris (played 2003–08)

Kwame Harris played offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders for six seasons in the NFL. He came out as gay in 2013 after his retirement.

8. Ryan O’Callaghan (played 2006–11) 

Ryan O’Callaghan was an offensive tackle who played for the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, going to the Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2007. After retirement, he publicly came out as gay. In 2019, he detailed his struggles with mental health and coming out in his autobiography, My Life on the Line: How the NFL Damn Near Killed Me and Ended Up Saving My Life.

9. Ryan Russell (played 2015–17)

Ryan Russell was a defensive end who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys. He came out as bisexual in 2019 in an essay written for ESPN. He is a vocal supporter of LGBTQ people in sports and has actively supported trans athletes.

Other gay football players

Time for a lightning round! Wade Davis, Dorien Bryant, Martin Jenkins, Brad Thorson, Michael Sam, and Colton Underwood are six more gay NFL athletes, although none ever made it to the field beyond preseason. Still, many of them made lasting impacts.

Sam was the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL in 2014 and had the second best-selling rookie jersey on the NFL website. Jenkins pursued a legal career and was appointed as a justice of the California Supreme Court. These inspiring men prove that queer people can achieve great things on and off the field.

(And who could forget Underwood, who soared to new heights when he jumped over that wall on season 23 of The Bachelor?)