Fomer Penn State defensive end Carl Nassib announced to the world on Monday that he is gay. In doing so, Nassib became the first active openly gay player in NFL history, and he has been receiving plenty of praise and support for his courage to come out from every possible angle. With support coming from Penn State head coach James Franklin and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Nassib has blazed a new trail for all in the LGBTQ community. And on Tuesday morning, Nassib received public praise from Michael Sam.
Sam, the former Missouri Tiger and SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, took to Twitter to lend his support for Nassib, thanking him for doing what he is doing with his announcement and support for The Trevor Project.
Carl Nassib thank you for owning your truth and especially your donation to the @TrevorProject. LBGTQ people are more likely to commit suicide than heterosexuals. I hope and pray people will take note to this. Thank you again Carl and look forward to seeing you play on the field.
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSam52) June 22, 2021
In 2014, following his collegiate career with the Missouri Tigers, Sam announced that he is gay prior to the NFL draft. The St. Louis Rams selected Sam in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft, making Sam the first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team. However, Sam was cut by the Rams at the end of training camp just before the start of the 2014 NFL season. Sam has never played a game in the league.
Sam did sign with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and became the first active openly gay player in the CFL in 2015. Sam stepped away from professional football in August 2015 due to mental health reasons. Today, Sam is an author and motivational speaker.
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