Carl Nassib is a professional American football defensive end who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft and has also played for the Las Vegas Raiders. Nassib was a standout player at Penn State University and won the Vince Lombardi Award in 2015 as the nation's best lineman. He is known for his strong work ethic and relentless pursuit of excellence on the field.
A West Chester, Pennsylvania native, Carl walked on to the Penn State football team, added nearly 60 pounds of muscle in 4 years, and as a fifth-year senior in 2015 he was the Big-Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous choice for All-American. Carl was selected in the 3rd round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He spent 2 seasons with the Browns then 2 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before signing a 3-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020.
On June 21, 2021 Carl became the first openly gay active player in the NFL, making the announcement on Instagram and also donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth. The NFL matched that donation, there was an outpouring of support for Carl in the NFL and LGBTQ communities as well as society in general, and Carl Nassib jersey sales skyrocketed, becoming sports retailer Fanatics’ top seller for the days after Carl came out.
Carl’s story on and, most importantly, off the field is one of the utmost inspiration and courage and he is an indelible role model and symbol of progress in pro sports. Nassib has been praised for his bravery in sharing his personal story and has inspired others to be true to themselves. He continues to play at a high level and is respected by his teammates and opponents alike.
