Seven-year NFL veteran defensive end/outside linebacker, Carl Nassib, has announced his retirement from the NFL.
"I gave it everything I had. I really feel like the luckiest guy on the planet."
Nassib isn't wrong. Reaching the NFL and converting that into a seven-year career is not easy and the majority of football players will never reach the heights that Nassib did.
Nassib was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. He spent his first two seasons in Cleveland before heading off to play his next two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nassib then once again moved onto another team for two years - the Las Vegas Raiders - before returning for a second go-round with the Buccaneers last season.
Through his seven-year career, Nassib started 38 games posting one interception, 19 passes defended, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 25.5 sacks.
As his career started to reach its' end, Nassib became a complimentary piece on defenses rather than being "the guy" until he was called upon to fill in that role.
Nassib may not be remembered for his performance on the field, but it is his efforts and stances off the field that sway those watching to root for him.
Nassib publicly came out as being the first actively gay player in the NFL back in 2021. Nassib sent shockwaves across the league with his announcement and was met with support from his peers, fans, and media alike.
He has continually been the epitome of what you want from a football player. He loved the game, loved the people he did it with, took coaching, was a leader, and stood for what he believed in - challenging the old perception of what football should and can be.
You can follow Caleb Skinner on Twitter @chsnole.
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