Famous gay footballers

He would come out to HBO Sports inwhere he discussed laughing off gay jokes and slurs for years while he played ball. So, with more and more football stars coming out and authentically living in their truths, has the future finally charged onto the turf?

Running back Dave Kopay, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers inwould play for five teams before hanging up his jersey in He would become the first major professional athlete to come out in any sport, telling his story to the Washington Star in -- three years after his retirement.

Ryan O'Callaghan, an offensive tackle with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, came out to OutSports in June ofrevealing that he had long contemplated suicide should he lose the chance to hide his sexuality with the mask of a macho sport.

Here's a list of players in college and pro football who have proved you can be gay or bi and still run the gauntlet. Davis said he concealed his sexuality from teammates while he played. The offensive tackle would be outed publicly in after a domestic dispute with a boyfriend landed him in jail.

So Coach Vince Lombardi knew McDonald was gay when he took over leadership of the team inbut made clear there would be no discrimination in his locker roomthose close to the legend say. Czech football player Jakub Jankto has joined a handful of other openly gay footballers at the top of the men's game: here are their stories.

33 football players who :

Kwame Harris played five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and one with Oakland Raiders before retiring from the sport after the season. A defensive tackle, journeyman Esera Tualo would play for five teams over nine seasons, with his longest run on the Minnesota Vikings.

But even in that final interview, he declined to "elaborate on his life style," as the Post put it. These are some of the men who have come out, fighting those stereotypes, and paving the way for. Gay players face pressure from teammates, ownership, coaches, and fans over their sexuality.

Coach Vince Lombardi had apparently confided in Smith that he knew of his sexuality but would never let it impact him negatively; Lombardi's brother was also gay. That's a quick shift considering retired NFL player Ryan O'Callaghan who came out shortly before Frantz shared that as recently as he'd contemplated taking his own life as a better option than letting his sexuality be disclosed while he still played ball.

By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. When Kansas State famous tackle and NFL hopeful Scott Frantz came out to the nation as gayhe shared that his teammates to whom he'd come out earlier had warmly received the news, a sign the most alpha of locker rooms may finally be ready for equality.

However, Lombardi would eventually fire McDonald for showing up late to a meeting, and the back would never play pro ball again. His career 60 touchdowns would set a record among tight ends that would stand for 26 years. Six years after playing his last game, a Super Bowl, he came out on Donahue in Simmons, who was HIV-positive, died of complications from pneumonia in InWashington Redskins running back Ray McDonald was arrested gay having sex with a man in public, footballer a year after the Redskins had drafted him in the first round.

Smith was part of a star Redskins lineup during the late s. He eventually revealed he'd had a short relationship with a closeted Jerry Smith. From World Cup stars to lower-league heroes, meet the gay and bi male footballers who have blazed trails in soccer around the world.

In ensuing years, the player's homsexuality would be documented posthumously, notably in a short NFL documentary.

20 Professional Men 39 : What’s more, female LGBTQ+ footballers are widely embraced and experience less homophobic abuse than male gay footballers

He graced the cover of The Advocate a few months later. After a career-ending injury inhe battled painkiller abuse and even wrote a suicide note, but after counseling decided to come out first to his family and then to the general public.

Kopay released a best-selling autobiography a couple years after that, but find himself an outcast in the football world for decadesdenied a chance to coach because of his sexuality even in the late s.