During Pride Month in June 2021, NFL star Carl Nassib made history when he came out as gay in an Instagram video, becoming the first openly gay active NFL player. But now he’s making another major announcement as he has decided to officially walk away from the game of football.
The NFL’s official Twitter account announced the news that Carl Nassib was headed to retirement.
“DL Carl Nassib announces his retirement from the NFL after a 7-year career. He was the first openly gay active player in the NFL,” the NFL’s official Twitter account said on Thursday.
DL Carl Nassib announces his retirement from the NFL after a 7-year career. He was the first openly gay active player in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/tdirCw2tYw
— NFL (@NFL) September 6, 2023
During his time in college with the Penn State Nittany Lions, Nassib earned All-American honors before he was ultimately selected in the third round by the Cleveland Browns in the 2016 NF Draft. Nassib had the best seasons of his career during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018 and 2019 where starting 17 games and recorded 12.5 sacks.
His retirement is a major announcement given everything he meant to the LGBTQ community as a trailblazer in the NFL, and people had plenty to say about it on Twitter as a result.
He decided that playing for a team with Baker Mayfield starting at QB wasn’t worth spending another six months in Ron DeSantis’s Florida. https://t.co/exxaYlVHYa
— Norm Charlatan (@normcharlatan) September 7, 2023
Congrats on all you accomplished on the football field, Carl, and the huge wake of visibility and representation you left behind you.
Our entire community is standing and clapping for you.
Something tells me your career has only just begun. #forwardprogress https://t.co/eRaKssQ1Xs
— Sam Rapoport (@samrap10) September 6, 2023
Wishing former Buccaneer, Carl Nassib, a happy retirement.
A good spell at One Buc and helped break down barriers during his NFL career.
Enjoy this next part of your life, Carl, from us all at Bucs UK. https://t.co/DvXLBKGwBR
— Bucs UK (@BucsUK) September 6, 2023
Congrats on retirement to one of my favorite Nittany Lions and Bucs! https://t.co/76fzGFJPOs
— jill (@_jillbeckman) September 6, 2023
Don’t read the comments https://t.co/BCf24SkjMU
— 𝓣𝓪𝓲𝓣𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓷🌊🌬 (@TheA1God) September 6, 2023
Buccaneer legend https://t.co/iStmqeBuzb
— Jared ⚜️ (@jaredshiv) September 6, 2023
Nassib had an impressive career as a player, but what he meant to the LGBTQ community will truly be his longterm legacy.
[NFL]
