Carl Nassib, the first openly gay player in NFL history, announces retirement

Carl Nassib. the former Penn State All-American turned NFL player, announced his retirement from the league early Wednesday. The first openly gay player in pro football is starting a new, non-profit business.

“This would have been my 23rd football season,” Carl Nassib told People in an exclusive interview. “I’ve been playing football since I was eight years old, and I’m really excited to move on to the next chapter of my life.”

Nassib was drafted by the Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. And he also played for the Raiders along with two stints with Tampa Bay. His last full season was 2022 with the Bucs.

Nassib told People he began thinking about retiring from football last season to concentrate fully on his new app called Rayze. He said he found himself staying late at the Bucs complex every night just so he could develop his new business.

“I feel like it’s my calling and it’s what I’m meant to do,” Carl Nassib said of the app. “I’m really excited to move on to the next chapter of my life and to give Rayze everything that I have.”

He added: “I think that I can provide a very rare and specific view of how life is for an out gay player, and I think that there are some amazing opportunities that I can also learn.”

Nassib also released a statement on his social media accounts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carl Nassib (@carlnassib)

The statement: “This is a bitter sweet moment for me but after seven seasons and just more than 100 NFL games I am officially retiring from football to focus on my company, Rayze. It feels really like 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 can. 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.”

Carl Nassib will forever be known for a simple statement he issued in June of 2021. He told the world he was gay.

“I thought nobody would care,” he told ESPN later that summer. “But it was just such a good feeling to have all that support,” Nassib said during training camp in 2021. “I was glad to do my part to help bring visibility and representation to my community.”

Throughout his career, Nassib’s chief responsibility was rushing the quarterback. In seven seasons, he registered 25.5 sacks.