Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib became the first openly gay player on an active roster in NFL history when he made the announcement on his Instagram page last week.
The 28-year-old, who was drafted by the Browns in 2016, has received an outpouring of support from across the league, including on social media, from Raiders owner Mark Davis and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
“The NFL family is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today,” Goodell said in a statement. “Representation matters. We share his hope that someday soon statements like his will no longer be newsworthy as we march toward full equality for the LGBTQ+ community.