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The out football star is returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers!
In June 2021, Carl Nassib made history by becoming the first active NFL player to publicly come out as a gay man. Since then, Nassib has been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community through different efforts, social media posts, and interviews with the press. The jerseys with his name also became a best-seller at online stores that specialize in sports apparel.
Nassib's career at the National Football League started in 2016 when he joined the Cleveland Browns for two years. In 2018, he was transferred to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and stayed there until 2019. Nassib then played for the Las Vegas Raiders between 2020 and 2021 - which is when he came out as gay.
Unfortunately, though, Nassib's NFL career was put in question following his public coming-out story. One can remember when, very recently, Michael Sam was not drafted to play another season after coming out as gay. The Bachelor star Colton Underwood, a former football player, also spoke openly about the lack of support for LGBTQ+ athletes in sports. As a result, many NFL fans and pundits questioned whether Nassib would be drafted by another team after coming out as gay.
Thankfully, it was announced this week that Nassib has been drafted for another season in the NFL - he will once again be playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is a historic moment for the NFL, but also a joyous landmark for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream sports.
To celebrate, scroll through to see pictures of Carl Nassib looking his finest -- and make sure to follow him on Instagram, @carlnassib, for more!
RELATED | 10 Best Moments From Carl Nassib's Historic NFL Season
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
