List of LGBT American football players explained

For a more in-depth discussion of the topic go here: Homosexuality in American Football.

This is a list of notable, openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, and queer-identifying athletes associated with American Football, namely the NFL. This includes those who were posthumously outed.

List of professional players

LGBT NFL players!Name!Years active!Play status!Position!Associated teams!Identity

Dave Kopay	1964-1972	△	Running back	49ers, Lions, Redskins, Saints, Packers	Gay^[1]
Jerry Smith	1965-1977	△	Tight End	Washington Redskins	Gay^[2]
Ray McDonald	1967-1968	△	Running back	Washington Redskins	Gay^[3]
Roy Simmons	1979-1983	△	Guard	Giants, Redskins	Gay^[4]
Jeff Rohrer	1982-1989	△	Linebacker	Dallas Cowboys	Gay^[5]
Esera Tuaolo	1991-1999	△	Defensive Tackle	Packers, Vikings, Jaguars, Falcons, Panthers	Gay^[6]
Kwame Harris	2003-2008	△	Offensive Lineman	49ers, Raiders	Gay^[7]
Ryan O'Callaghan	2006-2011	△	Offensive Lineman	Patriots, Chiefs	Gay^[8]
Aaron Hernandez	2010-2013	▲	Tight End	Patriots	Bisexual^[9] ^[10]
Ryan Russell	2015-2017	△	Defensive End	Buccaneers, Cowboys, Bills	Bisexual^[11]
Carl Nassib	2016-	△	Defensive Lineman	Browns, Buccaneers, Raiders	Gay^[12]
Wade Davis	2000-2003	▲	Wide Receiver	Titans, Seahawks, Redskins	Gay^[13]
Dorien Bryant	2008-2008	▲	Wide Receiver	Steelers	Gay^[14]
Martin Jenkins	1977-1977	▲	Defensive Back	Seahawks	Gay^[15]
Brad Thorson	2011-2011	▲	Offensive Lineman	Cardinals	Gay^[16]
Michael Sam†	2014-2014	▲	Defensive End	Rams, Cowboys [<nowiki/>[[Canadian Football League|CFL]] Alouettes 2015]‡	Gay^[17]
Colton Underwood	2014-2020	▲	Tight End	Chargers, Eagles, Raiders	Gay^[18]

*Posthumously revealed to have been gay.

**First active NFL player to come out.^[19]

†First openly gay player to be drafted by the NFL (did not make it onto the roster by the start of the playing season).

‡First openly gay man to play in a regular season game in the CFL^[20]

△Played in a Regular Season Game

▲Attended Training Camp^[21]

LGBT NWFA & FWA Players!Name!Years Active!Position!Associated Teams!Identity

Alissa Wykes

2000-?

Running Back

Liberty Belles

Lesbian^[22]

List of collegiate players

LGBT NCAA Football Players!Name!Position!College/University!Division!Identity

Conner Mertens	Placekicker	Willamette University	III	Bisexual^[23]
Wyatt Pertuset	Wide receiver	Capital University	III	Gay^[24]
Brian Sims	Defensive tackle	Bloomsburg University	II	Gay^[25]
Jacob Van Ittersum	Offensive Lineman	Northwood University	II	Bisexual^[26]
Mason Darrow	Offensive Lineman	Princeton University	I	Gay^[27]
Scott Frantz	Offensive tackle	Kansas State University	I	Gay^[28]
Ed Gallagher	Offensive tackle	University of Pittsburgh	I	Gay^[29]
Alan Gendreau	Placekicker	Middle Tennessee State University	I	Gay^[30]
Bradley Kim	Defensive back	Air Force Academy	I	Gay^[31]
Chip Sarafin	Offensive lineman	Arizona State University	I	Gay^[32]
Kennedy McDowell	Defensive lineman	Colorado State University	I	Gay^[33]

*First active collegiate football player to publicly come out.^[34]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dunlap. Alex. February 3, 2013. 'The NFL Beat': Lombardi and Kopay. 2021-06-29. www.austinchronicle.com. en-US.
2. Web site: . "HE WAS ONE OF US". 2021-06-29. Sports Illustrated Vault SI.com. en-us.
3. Book: Kroeger. Brooke. Brooke Kroeger. Passing [electronic resource]

   when people can't be who they are]

   . 2003. New York: Public Affairs. Internet Archive. 978-1-58648-287-9.
4. News: Yardley. William. 2014-02-25. Roy Simmons, 57, Lineman Who Later Came Out as Gay, Dies. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-06-29. 0362-4331.
5. Web site: Zeigler. Cyd. 2018-11-14. Gay former Dallas Cowboy Jeff Rohrer is marrying his boyfriend this Sunday. 2021-06-29. Outsports. en.
6. News: A Gay Football Player, 'Alone in the Trenches'. 2021-06-29. NPR.org. en.
7. Web site: 2013-05-29. NFL: A football career spent in the closet. 2021-06-29. ESPN.com. en.
8. Web site: Zeigler. Cyd. 2017-06-20. Former Patriots and Chiefs tackle Ryan O'Callaghan comes out as gay. 2021-06-29. Outsports. en.
9. Web site: Globe . The Boston . Aaron Hernandez hid secrets behind his smile . 2023-08-31 . BostonGlobe.com . en.
10. Web site: Watch Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez Netflix Official Site . 2023-08-31 . www.netflix.com . en.
11. Web site: Zeigler. Cyd. 2019-08-29. NFL free agent Ryan Russell comes out as bisexual. 2021-06-29. Outsports. en.
12. News: Nassib. Carl. 2021-06-22. Carl Nassib becomes first active NFL player to come out as gay – video. en-GB. The Guardian. 2021-06-29. 0261-3077.
13. Web site: Zeigler. Cyd. 2012-06-05. Wade Davis Comes Out As Gay. 2021-06-29. Outsports. en.
14. Web site: 2013-11-19. Dorien Bryant: The NFL's Almost First Out Player G Philly. 2021-06-29. Philadelphia Magazine. en-US.
15. Web site: Zeigler. Cyd. 2020-10-06. Gay former NFL player Martin Jenkins confirmed to Calif. Supreme Court. 2021-06-29. Outsports. en.
16. Web site: Zeigler. Cyd. 2014-07-07. Former football player Brad Thorson is gay. 2021-06-29. Outsports. en.
17. News: Branch. John. 2014-02-10. N.F.L. Prospect Michael Sam Proudly Says What Teammates Knew: He's Gay. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-06-29. 0362-4331.
18. Web site: Zeigler. Cyd. 2020-04-02. Colton Underwood, former NFL prospect, now says he is gay. 2021-06-29. Outsports. en.
19. Web site: Buzinski. Jim. 2021-06-21. Raiders player Carl Nassib comes out as gay, first ever. 2021-06-29. Outsports. en.
20. Web site: August 7, 2015. Michael Sam is 1st openly gay man to play in CFL regular season game. June 29, 2021. CBC News.
21. Web site: Buzinski. Jim. 2019-09-05. There have been 16 out gay and bi football players in the NFL's 102-year history. 2021-06-29. Outsports. en.
22. Web site: Out in the field: pro footballer Alissa Wykes talks about breaking new ground for out lesbian athletes--and the flak she's gotten along the way. (Sports). - Free Online Library. 2021-06-30. www.thefreelibrary.com.
23. Web site: Zeigler. Cyd. 2014-01-28. Conner Mertens came out to his college football team. Now he comes out publicly.. 2021-06-30. Outsports. en.
24. Web site: Gay college football player now an Ohio high school coach. 2021-06-30. www.msn.com.
25. Web site: 2013-01-15. Former college football captain was openly gay. 2021-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20130115104425/http://www.outsports.com/os/index.php/component/content/article/43-2009/228-former-college-football-captain-was-openly-gay. 2013-01-15.
26. Web site: Paul. Tony. Northwood football player Jacob Van Ittersum comes out as bisexual. 2021-06-30. The Detroit News. en-US.
27. Web site: Zeigler. Cyd. 2015-09-15. Princeton football player Mason Darrow comes out as gay four days before kickoff. 2021-06-30. Outsports. en.
28. Web site: 2017-07-13. Gay K-State OT 'so accepted' after telling team. 2021-06-30. ESPN.com. en.
29. Web site: 2009-02-17. Outsports: The Site for Gay Sports Fans and Athletes. 2021-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20090217172249/http://www.outsports.com/difference/gallagher.htm. 2009-02-17.
30. News: Branch. John. 2013-04-23. A Potential Pioneer, Just Looking for a Job. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-06-30. 0362-4331.
31. Web site: 2018-07-28. Air Force defensive back Bradley Kim is first openly gay service academy player. 2021-06-30. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
32. Web site: Arizona State OL Chip Sarafin announces he's gay. 2021-06-30. NFL.com. en-US.
33. Web site: Kennedy McDowell is an out gay player on the Colorado State Rams football team. 2023-10-28. Outsports. en-US.
34. Web site: 2014-03-02. Report: Division III kicker Conner Mertens tells coaches 'I'm bisexual' FOX Sports on MSN. 2021-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20140302181048/http://msn.foxsports.com/college-football/story/report-division-iii-kicker-conner-mertens-tells-coaches-i-m-bisexual-012814. 2014-03-02.