Carl Nassib, first openly gay player in the NFL, announces his retirement

Carl Nassibthe first openly gay player to play in a regular-season NFL game, announced his retirement from professional football on Wednesday.

The defensive end declared his sexual orientation in 2021 when he was a member of the Las Vegas Raiders. He played last season as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“This is a bittersweet moment for me, but after seven seasons and just over 100 games in the NFL, I am officially retiring from football to focus on my company, Rayze”Nassib wrote on Instagram. “It really feels like yesterday that I started playing at Penn State.

“American football has given me more than I ever imagined. I can truly hang up my helmet for the last time knowing that I gave it everything I had. When I was a kid I loved how much fun American football was. I loved the pursuit of perfection. I loved the small window in which each player can pursue their dreams. It makes it even more exciting when you get there. “It was always my dream to play in the NFL, even as a backup, and I truly feel like the luckiest guy on the planet.”

Nassib, 30, was a third-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2016, and had 25.5 quarterback sacks in seven seasons with Cleveland, Las Vegas and two stints in Tampa Bay.