The NFL Draft, which runs Thursday through Saturday, will have no out gay or bi players selected because none of the potential draftees are publicly out, a trend that was broken only once, 10 years ago.
In 2014, Michael Sam, who played at the University of Missouri, came out publicly as gay two months before the NFL Draft. Sam’s story became national news and it fueled weeks of speculation as to whether he’d be drafted and in what round.
Day 1 of the draft came and Sam’s name wasn’t called. Ditto for Day 2. As Day 3 progressed from rounds 1 through 6, it appeared as if Sam — co-defensive player of the year in the SEC his senior year — would go undrafted, causing the NFL an enormous PR headache over a talented gay player being passed over.
Finally, as the draft neared its end, the St. Louis Rams saved the NFL major embarrassment by drafting Sam near the bottom of the seventh round. Sam lasted through training camp and was one of the Rams’ final cuts. He was later picked up by the Dallas Cowboys for their practice squad but never played a down in an NFL regular season game.
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Two years later, Carl Nassib was drafted out of Penn State by the Cleveland Browns in the third round. After two seasons with Cleveland, Nassib then played two seasons with Tampa Bay before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. In June 2021, Nassib made history by coming out as gay, the first active NFL player to do so. After signing again with Tampa Bay for the 2022 season, Nassib retired in 2023.
Nassib will have a role in this year’s draft by announcing the Browns’ second-round draft pick.
Sam remains the only player out the day he was drafted, but nine other players — all of whom later came out as gay or bi — were also selected by NFL teams. Two were first-round choices: Ray McDonald, taken by Washington in the 1967 draft with the 13th overall pick, and Kwame Harris, drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the 26th overall pick in 2003.
One surprise non-draftee was Dave Kopay, who was signed by the 49ers as a free agent in 1964 and who went on to play nine seasons. Kopay made history in 1975 when he came out as the first gay NFL player, two years after retiring.
Overall, 16 out gay or bi players have either played in the regular season or competed in a training camp in the NFL’s history.
Gay or bi players who were drafted
Jerry Smith (1965-77): Tight end with Washington. Drafted by Washington of the NFL in ninth round in 1965. He was their fourth pick in the draft. Also drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL in 18th round in 1965. The AFL and NFL merged starting with the 1970 season.
Ray McDonald (1967-68): Running back with Washington. Taken first by Washington in the 1967 draft, 13th overall.
Roy Simmons (1979-83): Offensive lineman with the New York Giants and Washington. Drafted by the Giants in the eighth round in 1979.
Jeff Rohrer (1982-89): Linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys. Drafted by the Cowboys in the second round in 1982.
Esera Tuaolo (1991-99): Defensive tackle with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. Drafted by the Packers in the second round in 1991.
Kwame Harris (2003-08): Offensive lineman with the San Francisco 49ers and Raiders. Drafted by the 49ers in the first round, 26th overall in 2003.
Ryan O’Callaghan (2006-11): Offensive lineman with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. Drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round in 2006.
Michael Sam (2014): Drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round in 2014.
Ryan Russell (2015-17, spent 2018 in the Buffalo Bills camp): Defensive lineman with the Tampa Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys. Drafted by the Cowboys in the fifth round in 2015.
Carl Nassib (2016-22): Defensive lineman with the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders. Drafted by the Browns in the third round in 2016.
