FILE - Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) is seen on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Las Vegas. Edge rusher Carl Nassib, the NFLs first openly gay player to play in a regular-season game, announced his retirement on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. Nassib came out in 2021 while with the Raiders. He spent last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (AP Photo/Jeff Bottari, File)FILE - Cleveland Browns defensive end Carl Nassib (94) rushes the quarterback during an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Cleveland. Edge rusher Carl Nassib, the NFLs first openly gay player to play in a regular-season game, announced his retirement on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. Nassib came out in 2021 while with the Las Vegas Raiders. He spent last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Carl Nassib looks on during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. Edge rusher Carl Nassib, the NFLs first openly gay player to play in a regular-season game, announced his retirement on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. Nassib came out in 2021 while with the Las Vegas Raiders. He spent last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File)
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
FILE - Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) is seen on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Las Vegas. Edge rusher Carl Nassib, the NFLs first openly gay player to play in a regular-season game, announced his retirement on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. Nassib came out in 2021 while with the Raiders. He spent last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (AP Photo/Jeff Bottari, File)
Edge rusher Carl Nassib, the NFL’s first openly gay player to play in a regular-season game, announced his retirement on Wednesday.
Nassib came out in 2021 while with the Las Vegas Raiders. He spent last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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“This is a bittersweet moment for me but after seven seasons and just over 100 NFL games I am officially retiring from football to focus on my company Rayze,” Nassib wrote on Instagram. “It really feels like just yesterday starting out as a walk-on at Penn State.
"Football has given me more than I ever could have imagined. I can truly hang up my helmet for the last time knowing I gave it everything I had. Growing up I loved how fun football was. I loved the pursuit of perfection. I loved the small window where every player has to chase their dreams. It makes it all the more exciting if you get there. It was always my dream to play in the NFL, even as a walk-on, and I really feel like the luckiest guy on the planet.”
The 30-year-old Nassib, a third-round pick by the Browns in 2016, had 25 1/2 sacks in seven seasons with Cleveland, Las Vegas and two stints in Tampa Bay.
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