Kevin Maxenan associate strength/conditioning coach with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguarshas become the first male coach in a major men's U.S.-based professional sports league to come out as gay, according to NBC News, citing Outsports.
"I don't want to feel like I have to think about it anymore," Maxen told Outsports exclusively. "I don't want to feel like I have to lie about who I am seeing, or why I am living with someone else."
NFL players have previously come out. Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted when the then-St. Louis Rams selected him in 2014. In 2021, Carl Nassib, then with the Las Vegas Raiders, became the first active NFL player to come out publicly. Nassib played for Tampa Bay last season.
Maxen's partner is his boyfriend, Nick; they have been dating for more than two years.
Before Maxen, a couple of female assistant coaches in the NFL had come outmost notably, former San Francisco 49ers assistant coach Katie Sowers. Curt Miller is an out male coach in the WNBA.
Andrew Davis