Carl Nassib: First openly gay NFL player shows with partner

Carl Nassib
First openly gay NFL player to appear publicly with his partner

Carl Nassib was the first active NFL player to come out. Now the footballer also shows who he is with – the swimmer Søren Dahl.

In June 2021, football player Carl Nassib came out as homosexual – the first active professional in the NFL ever. “I just wanted to take a moment and say I’m gay. I’ve wanted to do this for a while and I’m finally comfortable getting rid of it,” he shared in a video on Instagram at the time.

Now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers player has presented his partner to the public. It is the Danish swimmer Søren Dahl. On his Instagram Story, Nassib posted a picture of himself with Dahl with the caption, “Starting 2023 with my husband and heading to the playoffs.” The footballer commented on a contribution from his partner with three red hearts – an obvious public declaration of love.

NFL pro Carl Nassib loves swimmer Søren Dahl

Dahl also posted a photo with Nassib, although he refrained from making a clear commitment to the relationship. The fans of the two athletes interpret the signs very clearly and are enthusiastic. The 29-year-old swimmer, Olympic participant with the Danish 4×200 meter relay in 2016, repeatedly makes his homosexuality an issue, especially on his TikTok channel. Last summer, for example, he shared a video there in which he recalled a youth coach’s statement that a homosexual could “never become a good swimmer” – and refuted it by showing his medals and pictures of his Olympic participation.

Carl Nassib, who plays defensive end, remains the only openly gay player in the NFL. But he does see progress in societal development, as he said last year: “We’re taking steps in a positive direction. It won’t be a perfect path and we just have to continue the course and make sure we do it from a position of love from a position of hostility and not from a position of hostility. I hope that I can be a positive nudge in that direction.”

Sources: Carl Nassib on Instagram / Soren Dahl on Instagram / Soren Dahl on TikTok