Carl Nassib

BIOGRAPHY

Carl Paul Nassib, born April 12, 1993, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, is best known for his prowess on the American football field, his college sports accomplishments, his impactful years in the National Football League (NFL), and his pioneering role as the first openly gay active NFL player.

Nassib discovered his love for sports at Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, where he was a three-year letterman in football. Excelling as an offensive tackle and defensive end, he guided his team to a 7–4 record in his junior and senior years. His athletic performance wasn’t just confined to football; he also demonstrated his versatility by obtaining two letters in basketball and three in track and field. He stood out as a senior, being chosen as team captain in basketball and directing the Friars to a 24–7 record.

Nassib’s sports journey continued at Pennsylvania State University where, in 2011, he walked onto the Penn State Nittany Lions football team. His initial years were quiet, with no playing time during his first two years. However, in 2013, Nassib broke through, participating in 10 games as a sophomore under coach Bill O’Brien, accumulating 12 tackles and one sack. These early experiences pushed him to become a starter for the first time in 2015, where he achieved 10 sacks in just six games.

In 2015, Nassib honored as a unanimous All-American and won the Big Ten Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year. His outstanding performance also earned him the Hendricks Award for the nation’s top defensive end and the Lombardi Award for the best college football lineman or linebacker. He was a finalist for other accolades, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Burlsworth Trophy, acknowledging him as the top defensive player in America and the nation’s best player who started as a walk-on.

Post-college, Nassib entered the professional domain of football by being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft with the 65th pick. Significantly, he signed a four-year contract worth approximately $3.2 million, with nearly $890,000 as a signing bonus. He announced his professional debut in grand style, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, earning a nomination for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. He played 14 games as a rookie and rose to become a starter in 2017.

His journey with the Cleveland Browns ended when he was waived on September 2, 2018. However, Nassib’s skills were soon picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, setting career records in sacks and tackles for loss in 2018. After two seasons with the Buccaneers, Nassib started 17 games and garnered 12.5 sacks.

The Las Vegas Raiders secured Nassib on March 27, 2020, with a three-year, $25 million contract, including $16.75 million guaranteed. His first career interception came during a game against the Denver Broncos during the tenth week of the 2020 season. That win also marked a significant milestone in Nassib’s career; he became the first openly gay player in NFL history to play a game making him a pioneer for the LGBTQ+ community in the sphere of American professional sports.

In the 2021 offseason, he was released by the Raiders and re-joined the Buccaneers in August 2022. He chose 93 as his jersey number but managed to secure his original jersey number 94, which was close to his heart as he had started with it in high school. He ended his active football career, announcing his retirement on September 6, 2023.

Nassib’s personal life has resonated widely. His father, Gilbert Nassib, played college football at the University of Delaware, and his older brother Ryan played as a quarterback at Syracuse University and in the NFL from 2013 to 2017. On June 21, 2021, during Pride Month, Nassib came out as gay, becoming the first active NFL player to do so publicly.

Not limiting himself to just announcements, he pledged $100,000 to The Trevor Project, a leading organization focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth. This public declaration was met with incredible support from the NFL, Raiders, Penn State, current athletes, and the sports community at large. His jerseys and t-shirts topped sales among all NFL players at Fanatics, the league’s sales partner. In 2023, Nassib was in a relationship with Danish Olympian Søren Dahl.

Nassib’s journey as a footballer, a Penn State star, an NFL professional, and the first openly gay active NFL player, conveys a tale of grit, perseverance, and the courage to live truthfully. His sports career and personal milestones have set significant precedents for athletes, making his name synonymous with fearless authenticity in the world of professional sports.