It’s going to be one less man on the field to watch this football season as Carl Nassib has announced his retirement from the sport.
Pass Rusher Carl Nassib has decided to call it quits, just a few short years after coming out in the biggest sport in the nation, and just after 7 years at the professional level. In 2021 became the NFL’s first openly gay player to play in a regular-season game.
“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. It really feels like just yesterday starting out as a walk-on at Penn State. Football has given me more than I ever could have imagined. I can truly hang up my helmet for the last time knowing I gave it everything I had. Growing up I loved how fun football was. 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.”
Nassib generated some great numbers while in uniform. Throughout his career, he produced 25.5 sacks, 59 QB hits, 187 tackles, four forced fumbles and an interception. Where did he build those numbers? He started with the Cleveland Browns in 2016. After two years there, he went to Tampa Bay for two more years. Then it was off to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 for yet another 2 years. He returned to Tampa Bay for his final 13 games of his career.
In 2021, he became the first active NFL player to come out as gay (Raiders Lineman Carl Nassib Just Became The NFL’s First Openly Gay Active Player).
Related Post: A generation of athletes finds courage and inspiration from Carl Nassib coming out as the NFL’s first active openly gay player.
We wish Carl all of the best. We are happy to see and hope his retirement is truly for great personal reasons.
Thanks for being an inspiration!
Source: NFL.com
Fuckin Quitter
He probably could have played at the same level as he did with the Raiders and with Tampa Bay for one, perhaps two and even more years. However, yes – it would have gotten harder, as he himself has said, he has to stay in shape year round and that means a certain diet, etc. As a gay man who is dating another gay athlete, I doubt he’s ever going to let himself go, but I can appreciate the difference between just working out for enjoyment, regular exercise like being active out of doors, which they appear to both enjoy even before they go together, based on their social, and the types of activities, like hiking, that we see them enjoying.
So, it’s pretty clear his retirement is, at minimum, partially being forced on him because some teams are either not willing to pay him what he’s worth (and there are certainly other people of comparable skills they can hire – even for less pay – who are not going to be the Openly Gay Football Player on the team) and homophobia is definitely playing a part.
I’m not sure the ‘working on my business’ when his business is a largely unnecessary app. Non-profits aren’t large businesses with the income to support something new, like an app to bring them volunteers or donations – not when they have tried and true or even better ‘new’ methods (such as crowdsourcing as with a GoFundMe campaign). His history before his coming out makes clear he’s not an idiot and he’s got a good economics and business background/understanding so if he didn’t finish his Penn State degree, he should do that, there or elsewhere and pursue some real business opportunities.
I’m so excited he got to play for my team the Raiders it was amazing seeing an out and proud gay man on my team. Was hoping to see him more of what he could do, much love to him.