THE REINVENTION OF RYAN RUSSELL
When defensive end football player Ryan Russell came out as bisexual last fall, he was the first active NFL player to come out as gay, bi, or queer—and the first out bisexual NFL player ever. He is also the only out male pro athlete currently active in the four major U.S. leagues, including MLB (baseball), the NBA (basketball), the NFL (football), and NHL (hockey).
Upending tradition, Russell didn’t do a traditional coming-out interview but instead wrote a heartfelt essay for ESPN in which he spoke of his recent meet with an NFL team. For all the great feelings he had, he did have one regret. “This is the last time I will ever interview for a job as anything other than my full self,” he wrote. “Out of love, admiration, and respect, I want the next team to sign me valuing me for what I do and knowing who I truly am.…a talented football player, a damn good writer, a loving son, an overbearing brother, a caring friend, a loyal lover, and a bisexual man.”
After playing college ball at Purdue, the one-time Dallas Cowboys player spent 2016-2017 playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then was signed by the Buffalo Bills for the 2018 season. Sadly, he was one of 35 guys cut from the team when they had to trim their roster to meet league regulations.
