Las Vegas Raiders, Penn State rally around Carl Nassib
By Brad Weiss
Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib made history this week, becoming the first active NFL player to announce he is gay, and he is getting plenty of support.
The big news around the NFL this week has not been around free agency, trades, or even training camp storylines. No, the big news has revolved around Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib, who announced via Instagram that he was gay on Monday.
In a recent piece by Matt Lombardo, a national writer for FanSided, he spoke with Colin Thompson, a tight end for the Carolina Panthers whose brother is a gay man. For Thompson, this is an incredible step:
"“This is massive for the NFL,” Carolina Panthers tight end Colin Thompson tells FanSided. “First of all, congratulations to Carl. Period. I can’t imagine how he feels. I can’t imagine what he said about the amount of time this has really weighed on his heart.“For someone who has a near and dear family member who is a gay man, my brother, to see his struggle and see how unfairly he was treated … I’m thrilled for Carl to get that angst out of his body, and his mind.”"
In the piece, Lombardo does a great job discussing what a momentous event this is, and how Nassib is breaking down some long-standing barriers. All around social media, we have seen nothing but love for Nassib, as well as financially, as his jersey is the top selling jersey in the NFL since him coming out.
Raiders, Penn State rally around Carl Nassib
Once a dominant edge rusher at Penn State, where he led the FBS in quarterback sacks, Nassib has been getting support from not only his Las Vegas Raiders teammates, but also his Penn State brethren. From Saquon Barkley to James Franklin, the Nittany Lions have rallied around Nassib, who was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for them in 2015.
Nassib has dominated on the field, and now he will be a dominant force off of it.
Nassib coming out was historic, brave, and powerful, and he is using his platform to help others who may be struggling with the decision to speak their truth. He has done more for the LGBTQ community than he has ever done on a playing field, and his former teammates, current teammates, and many around the world are rallying around him.
Hopefully, we will soon live in a world where these announcements are not shocking or breaking news, but for now, Nassib is proving to be a hero to so many, as well as a life-saver.