© 2025 WGCU News
PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Carl Nassib made queer NFL history. Now he's stepping away from the game

By Manuela López Restrepo
Published September 6, 2023 at 5:07 PM EDT
Carl Nassib played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022.
Mike Ehrmann
/
Getty Images
Carl Nassib played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022.

Carl Nassib made history when he became the first active NFL player to come out as gay. Now he's moving on to the next chapter.

Who is he? Nassib was a defensive end in the NFL.

  • Over seven seasons, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Raiders and the Cleveland Browns.

What's the big deal? Nassib shared the big news via Instagram that he would be retiring from the NFL.

  • It was also on Instagram that Nassib came out as gay in 2021, posting a video where he put it simply: "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."
  • Nassib says he will now dedicate himself to his company, Rayze, that seeks to better connect nonprofits to people online.

View this post on Instagram

What are people saying?

Here's what Nassib wrote in his post on Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

Want more on the NFL? Listen to the Consider This episode on why the NFL (still) has a diversity problem.

And here is Jim Buzinski, co-founder of Outsports.com, speaking to NPR in 2021 after Nassib came out about the significance of the moment:

So, what now?

  • Nassib says he looks forward to working with the NFL on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as philanthropic efforts in the future.
  • And this is his advice to anyone with 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."

Learn more:

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Tags
National News
Manuela López Restrepo
Manuela López Restrepo is a producer and writer at All Things Considered. She's been at NPR since graduating from The University of Maryland, and has worked at shows like Morning Edition and It's Been A Minute. She lives in Brooklyn with her cat Martin.
Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU
  • LeeTran will offe half-priced ULTRA Mobility on Demand rides in Lehigh Acres for bus rides to and from its new Lehigh Acres Park & Ride transit station on Village Lakes Drive, beginning June 12.
    Human Interest
    LeeTran calls on-demand service a success; considers expansion
    Mike Walcher
    A local public transit program is being called a success, after two years of a trial run.LeeTran said the ULTRA On Demand Transit program is working, and may be expanded.
  • Crime
    Vandalism causes temporary nightly closure of FGCU boardwalk
    WGCU Staff
    The boardwalk connecting Florida Gulf Coast University’s South Village residential area to the academic core is temporarily closed to pedestrian use from dusk to dawn. The closure is due to an act of vandalism that damaged the lighting system, creating hazardous conditions overnight.
  • Several thousand Southwest Floridians, awash in a sea of pink, walked for breast cancer at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Collier County Saturday.
    Health
    Thousands step up to support the fight against breast cancer
    Jennifer Crawford
    FGCU graduate 22-year-old Zoey Carter walked for her mother Wednesday.Jessica Carter -- her mother -- died at age 49 from breast cancer. “I'm walking here today in honor of my mom. She passed away last year after battling breast cancer for four years," she said. "We came here together two years ago, and she did the walk. So I'm finally back, just in her honor.” Zoey Carter fought back tears but gathered the strength to attend the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. She joined along with several thousand Southwest Floridians, awash in a sea of pink, at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Collier County.