Carl Nassib

Carl Nassib, the NFL's first openly gay active player, signed a one-year deal to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the move, which comes in light of backup linebacker Cam Gill’s Lisfranc injury. “I just think that representation and visibility are so important.” Carl Nassib, the NFL’s first openly gay active player, signed a one-year deal to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Here's hoping there comes a day when we will not have to write about a player being gay just like we no longer write about quarterbacks being Black.

Little did he know there was a gay player already in that locker room. He later came up to me and asked me to not quote him for the story. The Raiders matched that donation. A gay friend of mine confided that he was dating him. The answers were not shocking. That's why the sexual preference of those players never became public knowledge.

Nassib, who is the first out gay active NFL player, will return to the team after being released from the Las Vegas Raiders.

He has a lot of versatility, he brings a lot of energy, brings a lot of toughness and he understands the system.” Aside from a previous stint with the Buccaneers, Nassib also played with the Las Vegas Raiders from 2020 to 2021. [15 players](https://www.outsports.com/2019/9/5/20850457/nfl-history-gay-bi-players) have come out after playing professional football or, as with Michael Sam, came out after being drafted but never made a roster. The Raiders signed Nassib to a multi-year contract, but he was released from the team earlier this year. Nassib came out in an Instagram post in June 2021. I really have the best life, the best family, friends and job a guy can ask for.” The Raiders responded to an NFL post about Nassib’s coming out with a series of hearts.

Outside linebacker Carl Nassib is returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year contract. He left the Bucs after his two most successful season in ...

"He has a lot of versatility, he brings a lot of energy, brings a lot of toughness, and he understands the system. When he played, when he was here with us, he’s a very good pass-rusher on the outside, and he can also play inside in some nickel situations," Bowles said. Nassib, a favorite player for Bucs Head Coach Todd Bowles, will reunite with the coach he said has always been the best he's ever played for. Nassib left the Bucs after his two most successful season in 2018 and 2019 when he totaled twelve and a half sacks. The 29-year-old will have to pass a physical and sign the contract before he can rejoin the team. During his announcement, he pledged $100,000 to the Trevor Project, which focuses on suicide prevention and mental health counseling for LGBTQIA+ youth.

The defensive end, who made history by coming out while a member of the Raiders last year, previously played for Tampa Bay in 2018 and 2019.

“He has a lot of versatility, he brings a lot of energy, brings a lot of toughness and he understands the system. [released](https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-releasing-veteran-defensive-end-carl-nassib) by the Raiders, following a two-year stint that coincided with a turbulent period for Las Vegas. Sam then became the first openly gay player in the Canadian Football League when he [took the field](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/08/07/michael-sam-makes-professional-football-debut/?itid=lk_inline_manual_13) in August 2015 for the Montreal Alouettes. At the same time, the Raiders brought aboard a new general manager, Dave Ziegler, after they fired Mayock earlier in the month. “The last thing I said was, ‘You know what — for the kids.’ And I pressed post.” [advocates](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/06/22/carl-nassib-gay-impact/?itid=lk_inline_manual_8) for LGBTQ issues. “There’s a lot that’s been going on the last few days. “LGBTQI+ visibility and representation can be lifesaving,” said Joanna Hoffman, the director of communications for Athlete Ally, an organization that aims to end homophobia and transphobia in sports. Of his [Michael Sam](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/06/22/michael-sam-nfl-lgbtq-nassib/?itid=lk_inline_manual_13), had blazed a trail by coming out before the 2014 NFL draft. I just think that representation and visibility are so important.” Louis Rams but released before the start of the season and never played a regular season snap in the NFL.

Billed as a cost-cutting move, the Raiders released Nassib in March following two seasons in Las Vegas during which he totaled four sacks and 49 tackles in 27 ...

He has a lot of versatility, brings a lot of energy, brings a lot of toughness, and he understands the systems. Last year, Nassib also made history all over again when he stepped on the field during Week 1 as the first out gay player to play in a regular season game — and he immediately made a difference on the field. “When he was here with us, he was a very good pass rusher on the outside… Nassib has followed in the footsteps of players like Michael Sam, who in 2014 became the first out gay player to be drafted when the St. Far from a superstar, the 29-year-old pass rusher has spent much of his career flying under the radar as an occasional starter dating back to his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns in 2016. Nassib is returning to familiar surroundings in Tampa Bay, where he spent two seasons of his career prior to signing a three-year deal with Las Vegas.

Outside linebacker Carl Nassib is returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year contract. He left the Bucs after his two most successful season in ...

"He has a lot of versatility, he brings a lot of energy, brings a lot of toughness, and he understands the system. When he played, when he was here with us, he’s a very good pass-rusher on the outside, and he can also play inside in some nickel situations," Bowles said. Nassib, a favorite player for Bucs Head Coach Todd Bowles, will reunite with the coach he said has always been the best he's ever played for. Nassib left the Bucs after his two most successful season in 2018 and 2019 when he totaled twelve and a half sacks. The 29-year-old will have to pass a physical and sign the contract before he can rejoin the team. During his announcement, he pledged $100,000 to the Trevor Project, which focuses on suicide prevention and mental health counseling for LGBTQIA+ youth.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have brought back veteran pass rusher Carl Nassib on a one-year deal.

See what Carl Nassib has to say to Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans now that he's back on a new one-year deal.

Now, he returns to help the Bucs chase another Super Bowl ring. Watch the video above to see Nassib’s message for Bucs fans upon his return. Nassib spent two seasons with the Bucs earlier in his career, logging 12.5 of his 22 career sacks during his time in Tampa Bay.