Ryan Russell, a 27-year-old NFL free agent and defensive end who has played with the Dallas Cowboys, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Buffalo Bills, recently came out as bisexual in a moving essay published by EPSN.
On Friday, he spoke to CNN about his experience of coming out in the NFL and why he believes being open about his sexuality will make him be a better teammate, once he signs with a team.
Related: Newly out NFL player Ryan Russell posts love poem to boyfriend and… wow
“If you’re focused on hiding a part of yourself or…anything other than your sport, your opponent and your craft, then you won’t be as effective,” the defensive end said. “You’ll be a step behind, you’ll be a step slower.”
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“Once I finally felt ready to come out, I just felt a weight lifted. I became a better brother. I became a better son. I believe I’ll be a better teammate.”
There are no currently out gay or bisexual players in the NFL, making Russell, a three-year veteran with the league, a historic first–excluding Michael Sam‘s short and uninspiring stint that lasted less than one season.
Related: PHOTOS: Newly out NFL player Ryan Russell’s Instagram page is one giant thirst trap
“I believe the NFL is in a great position to be the hero in this story,” Russell tells CNN. “I believe the NFL is ready to support an openly LGBT athlete. I know they have the resources to control any time of media hailstorm or distraction.”
He adds, “You can’t support an openly LGBTQ player if there are no openly LGBTQ players. … Someone has to take that first step.”
Watch.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
From the article: ““I believe the NFL is in a great position to be the hero in this story,” Russell tells CNN. “I believe the NFL is ready to support an openly LGBT athlete. I know they have the resources to control any time of media hailstorm or distraction.”
I think its time to ask these question. Since you are now a free agent why is there more talk about your sexuality than your playing skills/stats and why aren’t NFL teams are not knocking each other down to get you to sign with their team? People whom pay fifty dollars per seat just to sit in the very tippy top of stadiums are not interested in seeing political statements such as the one you seem hellbent to make flashed on the giant screen for their eleven year old sons to see. Its a macho sport plain and simple that knows (by now) that they have players who’s sexual preference are other men. I can’t say I blame team owners who pay out multi million dollar salaries to ask its players to simply shut up and do what they were hired to do, entertain the masses that pay to see them without having their sex lives crammed down their throats. You’ve clearly made it known you are gay and prefer vanilla to chocolate but now I think its time for you to please shut up and play ball. Try getting gay youth interested in the sport than letting every pic you release show you smoothing all over your boyfriend. Surely at least one photo has to be in your collection of you actually down on the field during a game with teammates who couldnt care less what you do at night in the bed. You are employed by a team and its time to show you are a team player and not a modern day self promoting rebel. I can already see the “no one will pick me up because I’m gay” cry coming very soon. But of course you didn’t cause that reaction from those team owners who are in BUSINESS to make money.
JonathanMartin1285
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Donston
You’re basically telling people to “shut up and play”. It’s a very Conservative viewpoint. You wanna go decades more before a single active player is willing to show the world he’s into dudes? I support players staying closeted for self-protection, or simply because they’re not comfortable being out and don’t want their sexuality, their sense of self, their internal/external struggles, who they date, who they love to overwhelm their image, or if they simply want to be out. But what you’re saying and supporting is not only anti progress, it’s anti-gay.
What the world needs is an athlete who’s willing to be nonchalantly and comfortably out (like female athletes get to be), not really an out-and-out activist. Or at least not one who has already been out of the league for a couple of season, never was a name player, has written a (somewhat problematic) article and who seems to be focused on self-promotion. He also comes off an kinda corny. One of the issues with being a “gay male” is that it for a lot of people it lacks any real cool factor. This cheesing ass, sentimental dude certainly doesn’t help imbue any chill and cool factor. However, that’s not something he can help or should be ashamed about.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
@Dunston….”Or at least not one who has already been out of the league for a couple of season, never was a name player, has written a (somewhat problematic) article and who seems to be focused on self-promotion. He also comes off an kinda corny. One of the issues with being a “gay male” is that it for a lot of people it lacks any real cool factor. This cheesing ass, sentimental dude certainly doesn’t help imbue any chill and cool factor. However, that’s not something he can help or should be ashamed about.”
Lord, I know I have no room to talk but please have mercy on us and have Queerty install an edit or self deleting tab in the comment section. Sometimes we say things that once we really think about what it was we just said we meant it but didn’t really mean to say it or get sorry and regretful afterwards how we put it. My intentions overall were for him to focus on his playing skills and tell the next interviewer “I really don’t want to talk about my personal off field life at this time” and make more comments regarding how he can work with certain players on certain teams and the skill of those players and how an asset to the team he would be. The environment he has now created has everyone feeling he must think said quarter back on said team is hot. He did this to himself I ashamed to same and I’ll bet that just how those owners are looking at it. Have mercy on me and others who too had those thoughts and expressed them.
Donston
I said what I said. (And I am aware that it was semi shady).
He’s not gonna focus on talking about his skill, because that’s not why CNN is interviewing him. No one would be interviewing him if not for his “coming out” and his article. No one beyond fans of his former teams knew who this dude was before he came out, and he was already out of the league. His NFL career is over, and he’s likely aware of this. At this point he’s mostly politicking and getting his name out there for his next ventures. That type of image manipulation is transparent. That’s why only name and/or active players unashamedly dating guys can make any real impression on changing the realm of sports. Furthermore, in a previous article you did flat-out say the dude shouldn’t have come out, and everyone in the league should be a conformist, and progression is not worthwhile. So, don’t act like your response is only due to him unrelentingly talking about his boyfriend and dating guys.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
@Dunston………”Furthermore, in a previous article you did flat-out say the dude shouldn’t have come out, and everyone in the league should be a conformist, and progression is not worthwhile. So, don’t act like your response is only due to him unrelentingly talking about his boyfriend and dating guys.”
Dear, your haste to read people REVEALS much more than I’m sure you intended. “Furthermore”? Yes, that word alone proved I was right in my summation. Calm down, for you are above that.
RIGay
He’s adorable, but I hope he doesn’t turn into the next Michael Sam.
JaredMacBride
He already has.
djmcgamester
I really hope this goes well. I’d love to see an out NFL player who will, hopefully, have a long career ahead of him. Michael Sam said he wasn’t the only one. Ryan O’Callaghan has said there is at least on gay player on every NFL team. If they all came out it would be difficult to make any claims of them not being good to remain on the team. Fingers crossed with this one.
“Sister” clearly doesn’t get that someone has to take those first steps. It will NEVER be okay if everyone stays quiet about it. In an ideal world, no one should have to make a proclamation of being gay in the NFL. We don’t live in an ideal world. He’s not “cramming” sexuality in anyone’s face anymore than a player who walks around holding hands with his wife and kids, or mentions them in an interview.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
” If they all came out it would be difficult to make any claims of them not being good to remain on the team. Fingers crossed with this one.”
If his skills and stats were stellar he would not be making the present day talk show rounds that are being passed off as news channels his new home. The teams would be breaking down the doors to sign him up and the fact that they aren’t are an indication it has been determined he is not worth the trouble his signing would bring. The rules in the world of professional sports have changed dramatically for the players (baseball and football). They are no longer tolerating headline making foolishness like they did in the past and couldn’t care less about being called racist because they let go an obvious troublemaker who thought he was going to get a multimillion paycheck while being arrested every other weekend for god only knows what. Even associating with people who are nothing more than notorious thugs is no longer tolerated. If they do associate with such people they pray their name is never connected with them during arrests. With that policy clearly in effect why would they bring on board some one whose sole purpose seems to be spreading his sexuality instead of his playing skills? Seriously, who wants to hear about whom you sleep with and in what position? What does that have to do with catching a football and running down the field to score a touch down? This kid has already hung himself and won’t admit it. You promote your SKILLS and show you are a TEAM FIRST type player and once you’ve proved that then you bring out your boyfriend as long as its ok with your teammates. If not you and your boyfriend still have their respect even though its known by everyone that isn’t exactly right but it doesnt interrupt the paycheck from coming in nor the viewers at home from sitting thru multimillion dollar thirty second commercials that are needed to keep the profits coming in. Its all about money, plain and simple. I just don’t think the majority of paying fans with pickup’s and sons in tow are on the streets cheering gay pride floats the last Sunday in June and would prefer to not start picturing endorsements of Andrew Christian jock straps over regular Fruit of the Loom jockstraps. Its possible to penetrate the NFL moat but they are insisting you shut up about it if you are good enough to do it and I don’t blame them.
Josh447
Though I understand his timing went along with an injury, I do think coming out after getting picked might have served better for the overall result. But then time remains to be seen if he’ll get picked up.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Sad to say I am thinking he will remain a free agent. The NFL is still dealing with multiple social issues which it tries to avoid. I would love for him to be picked up and excel. Too many Dbag haters who will throw fits if he is signed. I don’t think in a leauge where the ball is the main focus that a team will have the balls to sign him
🙁
Smith David
Hhhh….bye Felicia!