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Carl Nassib Details What it Was Like To Hit Send on Coming Out

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib took some time away from the team following the leak of Jon Gruden's homophobic emails

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) sits on the bench during an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Carl Nassib is giving us a look into what’s it’s like coming out.

The former Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as gay in 2021, he received “nothing but love and support” from around the league. But that moment took over 15 years and one hour of staring at his phone before he finally sent the short Instagram video that announced he was gay.

“I stared at the phone for, like, an hour just looking at it, trying to hype myself up,” he told Good Morning America this week. “The last thing I said was like, ‘You know what — for the kids.’ And pressed post.

“I just wanted to show that it really doesn’t matter — your sexual orientation.”

Nassib added that his close friends and family already knew he was gay, but he wanted to come out publicly.

“[I] actually hope that one day videos like this and the whole coming out process are just not necessary,” he said. “When people come out, they’re coming out of the closet because they’re afraid. They have fear that they’re gonna have negative impact on their life, on their relationships, on their job.

“I just hoped that one day we don’t have those fears — that’s the society I hope for one day. And I hope I can be a positive push in that direction.”

Nassib spent the past two seasons with the Raiders but was released in March after he recorded 21 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks in 13 games.  He said he wasn’t surprised the Raiders released him and remains committed to continuing his NFL career.

“It was a great time we had. I have so much love for Las Vegas. It allowed me to do a lotta great things,” Nassib said. “And I think that there’ll be more — there’ll be better opportunities in the future.”

Hopefully Nassib can continue his NFL career with another team.

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