Penn State alum Carl Nassib announces retirement from NFL

Penn State alum Carl Nassib is retiring from the NFL, he announced on social media Wednesday morning. The former Nittany Lion who played defensive end and linebacker in the pros saw time in 99 contests over seven professional seasons after the Cleveland Browns selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He became the league’s first openly gay active player in 2021.

“This is a bittersweet moment for me but after seven seasons and just over 100 NFL games I am officially retiring from football to focus on my company,” Nassibw wrote on Instagram. “It really feels like just 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 had.

“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.”

Nassib’s company, Rayze, connects non-profits with potential volunteers.

“I want to get people out and giving back to their communities — making it a popular thing to do,” Nassib told CNBC in 2022. “We really just want to encourage grassroots movements. And we want to make it cultural, where it’s part of society to get up and do something.”

Nassib burst onto the national scene late in his Penn State career after joining the program as a walk-on. He totaled 15.5 sacks in 2015 and was a consensus All-American who won the Ted Hendricks Award as the sport’s best defensive end and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Penn State connections appear in Nassib’s retirement announcement

Nassib thanked numerous people, including some with Penn State connections, in his retirement announcement. You can read it in full below:

“This is a bittersweet moment for me but after seven seasons and just over 100 NFL games I am officially retiring from football to focus on my company Rayze. It really feels like just 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 had. 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.

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“Big moments like this are a time for gratitude. I want to thank God, my family and my friends for always being there for me even when I didn’t realize it. I want to thank my agent Brian Ayrault. Staying with you to WME was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Brian was the first person in the football industry I came out to and he didn’t blink. He encouraged and motivated me to follow through with my announcement and to make as big of an impact as I possibly could. I want to also thank Jason Licht and John Spytek. These two reignited my career not once… but twice. I was fired twice and they picked me up both times. I played my best football in Tampa and it never would have happened if it wasn’t for those two legends.

“Thank you to all my coaches, teammates, trainers and staff throughout the years. Shout out to Bobby Slater, Tim Bream, Joe Sheehan and Chris Cortez for keeping me healthy. Lastly I want to thank Todd Bowles, James Franklin, Larry Foote, Coach Buck, Clyde Simmons, Larry Johnson and Bob Shoop for coaching up a lanky, know-it-all, try hard guy. To anyone who has a dream of being the best, never let anyone convince you it’s impossible. Be the best you can be in everything you do. Work hard, make smart decisions and be kind to others. I am so excited for the next chapter of my life and to give Rayze everything I have. I am also looking forward to working alongside the NFL on DEI and exciting philanthropic efforts in the future. Wish me luck! Thank you.”