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NFL’s first openly gay player retires for ultimate ‘calling’

Updated: Sep. 06, 2023, 9:11 a.m. | Published: Sep. 06, 2023, 8:55 a.m.



Carl Nassib has announced his retirement. AP

By Bridget Hyland | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Carl Nassib, the first openly gay NFL player to appear in a regular-season game, is retiring from the league. ... He announced his retirement in an Instagram post Wednesday morning.

“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,” he wrote. ... The 30-year-old founded Rayze, an app designed to connect people to nonprofit organizations that are looking for volunteers and donations.

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The outside linebacker became the first openly gay player active in the NFL in 2021 while with the Las Vegas Raiders. ... Nassib was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Penn State. He spent 2018-2019 with the Buccaneers, then signed with the Raiders. After two seasons in Las Vegas, he signed with Tampa Bay again for the 2022 season. He became a free agent at the end of last season.

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“Growing up I loved how fun football was,” he wrote. “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.”

Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com