Only Openly Gay NFL Player Requests, Is Granted Day Off After Gruden’s Emails Surface

OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.

The only openly gay player in the National Football League, Carl Nassib, requested and received a personal day off following the resignation of his coach, Jon Gruden.

Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said, “He just said he’s got a lot to process.”

“There’s a lot that’s been going on the last few days,” Mayock continued. “And, of course, we support that request.”

His teammate, Raiders tight end Darren Waller, responded, “I support that 100 percent.”

“He’s pretty much a lone wolf when it comes to that,” Waller said.

“Nobody should be able to tell him how to feel. Nobody should be able to tell him how to grieve,” he added.

“He deserves to take time for himself because that’s a lot to process,” Waller added.

Former coach of the Las Vegas Raiders Jon Gruden resigned over emails sent between 2011 and 2018 while he worked as an ESPN analyst.

The emails were deemed homophobic over language used when referring to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as well as player Michael Sam.

Gruden called Goodell a “fa****” and a “clueless anti-football p****.”

In another email, Gruden said that Goodell and the NFL should not have pressured the Rams to draft “queers,” which was a reference to Michael Sam.

Michael Sam was the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL.

Gruden issued a statement saying, “I have resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.”

“I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone,” he concluded.