16 former NFL players who came out as gay and bisexual in the past 61 years
(Image via Getty: Michael Sam and former fiance Vito Cammisano)
Dorien Bryant, a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, came out as gay in 2013 when he was 28 years old. But his mother had suspected he was gay in middle school when she found a gay p*rn magazine.
Ray McDonald, a running back for Washington Redskins, was arrested for having s*x with another man in public in 1968. Wade Davis, a wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, carried the 'gay-is-weak' mantra in his head for the longest time. Many such coming-out stories revolve around 13 more former NFL players. Check out their breathtaking stories below.
Brad Thorson, offensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals
2011 NFL season
Training camp
Thorson came out as gay in 2014 via his blog post - Seeing Through the Fog. He wrote, 'I'm gay. I'm also an athlete. For years, I struggled to unite these two identities in my own mind.'
Carl Nassib
, defensive end and linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2016 to 2022 NFL season
Regular season
Nassib came out as gay in June 2021 and became the first openly gay NFL player to play an NFL game in September 2021.
Colton Underwood, tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers
2014-2020 NFL season
Training camp
Underwood came out as gay in 2021 when he shared with Good Morning America's Robin Roberts, 'For me, I've run from myself for a long time, I've hated myself for a long time, and I'm gay. I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing all of that. The next step in all of this was sort of letting people know.'
Dave Kopay, running back for the San Francisco 49ers
1964-1972 NFL season
Regular season
Kopay came out as gay in 1975 via a Washington Star newspaper article that talked about former Washington Redskins player Jerry Smith. Kopay and Smith had had a sexual encounter.
Dorien Bryant, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers
2008 NFL season
Training camp
Bryant came out as gay in 2013, but his mother had suspected he was gay in middle school when she found a gay p*rn magazine.
Esera Tuaolo, defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers
1991-1999 NFL season
Regular season
Tuaolo came out as gay in 2002 and shared with ESPN The Magazine in 2021, 'People ask me if I think a superstar football player will ever come out during his playing days. I hate to be negative, but I don't see it happening. The league just isn't ready for it, and neither are the fans.'
Jeff Rohrer, linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys
1982-1989 NFL season
Regular season
Rohrer came out as gay in 2018 and also became the first former NFL player to be in a same-sex marriage.
Jerry Smith, tight end for Washington Redskins
1965-1977 NFL season
Regular season
Smith came out as gay in 1978, and the NFL Network created a documentary titled 'A Football Life' on him.
Kwame Harris, offensive lineman for the Las Vegas Raiders
2003-2008 NFL season
Regular season
Harris came out as gay in 2013 when he was charged with assaulting his ex-boyfriend.
Martin Jenkins, defensive back for the Seattle Seahawks
1977 NFL season
Training camp
Jenkins came out as gay in 2020 and currently is the first openly gay California Supreme Court Associate Justice.
Michael Sam, defensive end for the St. Louis Rams and on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad
2014 NFL season
Training camp
Sam came out as gay in 2014 and became the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL by the St. Louis Rams.
Ray McDonald, running back for Washington Redskins
1967-1968 NFL season
Regular season
McDonald never came out publicly as gay, but he was arrested for having s*x with another man in public in 1968 and passed away in 1993 due to complications from AIDS.
Roy Simmons, offensive lineman for the New York Giants
1979-1983 NFL season
Regular season
Simmons came out as gay in 1992, became HIV positive in 1997, and died at the age of 57 in 2014.
Ryan O'Callaghan, offensive lineman for the New England Patriots
2006-2011 NFL season
Regular season
O'Callaghan came out as gay in 2017 and had visited Los Angeles for his first-ever Pride celebration back then.
Ryan Russell, defensive lineman with the Dallas Cowboys
2015-2017 NFL season
Regular season
Russell came out as bisexual in 2019 and shared with ESPN and Outsports that he was a talented football player, a loyal lover, and a bisexual man.
Wade Davis, wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans
2000-2003 NFL season
Training camp
Davis came out as gay in 2012 and carried the 'gay-is-weak' mantra in his head.
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