LAS VEGAS — Editor's Note: The above video is from a previously published, unrelated story
Former Cleveland Browns defensive end Carl Nassib announced on Monday he is gay. Nassib, now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, becomes the first active player in NFL history to come out.
"I just want to take a quick moment to say that I'm gay," Nassib said in a video posted to Instagram from his home in Pennsylvania. "I've been meaning to do this for awhile now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get this off my chest."
Nassib said he is not making the announcement for attention.
"I just think that representation and visibility are so important. I actually hope that, one day, videos like this and the whole coming out process are just not necessary. But until then, I am going to do my best and do my part to cultivate a culture that is accepting, that's compassionate and I'm going to start by donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project."
Nassib was drafted by the Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft coming out of Penn State. He played two seasons in Cleveland, recording 50 total tackles and 5.5 sacks, before being waived prior to the 2018 season and joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nassib would spend two seasons with the Bucs, before signing a three-year, $25 million contract with the Raiders in 2020.
Browns fans may also remember Nassib for some of his memorable moments during HBO's Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cleveland Browns in 2018. In the below clip, Nassib teaches his young teammates about financial planning.
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