Former Tennessee Titan, Wade Davis, publicly exposed his homosexuality to Outsports.com this week.
He said he kept his sexual preference private because he didn't want it to affect his career in any way. Although he did not think his teammates would be bothered by it, he was not comfortable enough with the idea of the league knowing at the time.
In an interview with CNN's Soledad O'Brien, the player explained that he did not want his sexuality to define himself or his career.
Davis retired from the NFL in 2003 and began working with the Hetrick-Martin Institute, where youth can get help with issues related to their sexuality. The Institute helps young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered.
"Having the opportunity to work at the Hetrick-Martin Institute gives me the opportunity to talk about lives that I'm about to effect in a real way," said Davis to CNN.
In further discussion with Davis about how he thought NFL players would react to a gay teammate he said, "I don't believe most NFL players have a problem with having a gay teammate. I do get the feeling they have to protect who they are," he said in reference to players' "brand". "At the end of the day it's a job, so all of these players have to make sure they're in a certain type of light."
According to NYDailyNews.com, many NFL and NBA players who have been asked their response to having a gay teammate have replied that they would not have a problem with it. Outsports.com interviewed numerous well known NFL players about the subject last month and they all agreed that they would be supportive towards a teammate who is gay.
