The first was soccer standout Robbie Rogers, who did so for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2013.Įvery team’s culture is different. When he signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets in 2014, he became the second openly gay athlete to play in any of the major men’s professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. Jason Collins, an NBA center for 13 seasons, publicly came out as gay at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season.
He never made a final roster or played in a regular-season game, however. Michael Sam, a former University of Missouri defensive end, was the first openly gay football player selected in the NFL draft, chosen in the seventh round by the St. “I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest.” “I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay,” the sixth-year player said in a video monologue from his home in Pennsylvania.
He made the announcement on Instagram, saying that even though he’s a private person and isn’t seeking attention, representation and visibility are so important. Carl Nassib, a defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders, made NFL history Monday when he became the league’s first active player to come out as gay.
