“Hi, folks. I want to tell you I’m gay.” Carl Nassib, defensive end of the Las Vegas Raiders, is the first NFL player to come out. The 28-year-old posted a short video on his Instagram profile to publicly declare his homosexuality: a disruptive and extremely significant gesture in professional sport par excellence. “How’s it going, folks? I’m here at home in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I want to take a moment to say I’m gay. I’ve wanted to do it for a long time, I finally feel comfortable enough to take this weight off. I have a wonderful life: I have the best family, best friends and the best job you could ever want. I am a private person, I hope you understand that I don’t do this for attention, “says the player. “I believe that giving visibility to” statements like this “is essential. I hope that one day videos like these and the whole process of coming out are not necessary. But until then, I will do my utmost to promote a culture that welcomes and that expresses empathy. I will donate $ 100,000 to the Trevor Project, “he says referring to the organization that guarantees assistance and is committed to preventing suicides in the LGBTQ + community. Nassib, a professional since 2016, joined the Raiders in 2020 as a free agent, signing a three-year contract worth $ 25 million, with a guaranteed salary of $ 16.75 million. The NFL immediately expressed its support for the player. “The League is proud of Carl, who courageously shared his truth today,” says commissioner Roger Goodell. “We share his hope that statements like this will soon stop making the news,” he adds. The words of Mark Davis jr, owner of the Raiders, to Espn are also eloquent: “We are in 2021. It does not change my opinion about him as a person or as a Raider”.