Outside linebacker Carl Nassib, who made history by being the NFL’s first openly gay player in 2021, made his retirement announcement on Wednesday.
Nassib explained his choice and referred to his retirement as a “bittersweet moment,” in an Instagram post.
“It really feels like just yesterday starting out as a walk-on at Penn State,” Nassib wrote. “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.”
According to Nassib, the NFL is interested in keeping in touch in an unspecified capacity.
“Maintaining that relationship shows that the NFL is continuing to support me,” Nassib said. “They’ve supported me so much over the last two years, and I really couldn’t have done it without that support.”
While he was a member of the Las Vegas Raiders in June 2021, Nassib made his sexual orientation public. He described the response to his revelation that August as “incredible.”
Nassib, 30, last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022, when he had 13 appearances, registered 3.5 sacks, and recovered a fumble. After being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, he participated in seven NFL seasons.
In his article, he stated that he would shift his attention to Rayze, a firm that develops an app that connects users with one another and NGOs that share their interests or are local to them.
