Colts' Irsay praises Carl Nassib after historic announcement

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Colts owner Jim Irsay praises Raiders' Carl Nassib after historic announcement

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Jun 23, 2021 5:42 PM ET

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib continues to receive messages of support from individuals both in and outside of the football community.

Roughly two days after Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as openly gay, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay tweeted about the historic announcement:

I commend Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib for his courage and world leadership. Love,tolerance and open mindedness must lead the way in the 21st Century! #ChangingTheWorld!
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) June 23, 2021

Tuesday night, President Joe Biden praised both Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama from National Women's Soccer League side Washington Spirit. Yokoyama came out as a transgender man on Sunday.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Nassib was responsible for the best-selling NFL jersey across the Fanatics network this week. Also Tuesday, the NFL matched a $100,000 donation made by Nassib to The Trevor Project, an organization that focuses on suicide prevention among LGBTQ youths.

Raiders team president Marc Badain, owner Mark Davis, coach Jon Gruden, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell are among the many others who have backed Nassib via statements and comments since Monday afternoon.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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