Carl Nassib Shines in First Game Since Coming Out
Out gay defensive end forces key fumble to set up game-winning touchdown
BY MATT TRACY
It was an all-around historic
evening when the Raiders
hosted the Ravens on September
13 for Monday Night
Football: It marked the fi rst time
fans were in attendance at the
Raiders’ new stadium in Las Vegas
and it was the fi rst time out gay
defensive end Carl Nassib played a
regular season game since coming
out — and he made a big statement
in front of a national audience.
Behind more than 61,000 fans,
the Raiders were just inches away
from scoring the game-winning
touchdown in overtime when quarterback
Derek Carr threw an interception
to give the Ravens new life.
Nassib, however, went on to save
his team on defense with a stripsack
of quarterback Lamar Jackson,
forcing a turnover and putting
the Raiders in prime position
Out gay defensive end Carl Nassib sacks quarterback Lamar Jackson on September 13.
for the game-winning score. Carr
then unloaded a 31-yard touchdown
pass to Zay Jones to secure
the victory for Las Vegas.
MARK J. REBILAS-USA TODAY SPORTS
“It was really special,” Nassib, who
came out as gay in June, told reporters
after the game. “I’m really happy
that we got the win on the day that
SPORTS
kind of made a little bit of history
which was really nice to do.”
Nassib is a backup defensive
end, but he took advantage of his
opportunities by putting pressure
on Jackson and tallying two tackles
before forcing the pivotal turnover.
He drew praise from head
coach Jon Gruden, who said after
the game that Nassib had a “great
training camp” and “we’re going
to need him here obviously as we
move forward.”
A week later, Nassib registered
one tackle in the Raiders’ 26-17
victory over the Steelers on September
19.
Nassib came out in a video he
posted on social media and said
he was donating $100,000 to the
Trevor Project. Nassib was drafted
by the Cleveland Browns in 2016
and went on to play for the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers before joining the
Raiders in 2020.
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