Carl Nassib rejoins Buccaneers as an outside linebacker
The former Penn State and Malvern Prep star became the NFL's first openly gay active player in June 2021.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tampa Bay has signed Carl Nassib, a defensive end who returns after playing for the Buccaneers in 2018 and 2019. The Buccaneers are listing Nassib as an outside linebacker.
Nassib, a former star at Malvern Prep and Penn State, joined the Buccaneers in Nashville, where they are practicing Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Saturday night’s exhibition against the Tennessee Titans. Coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday that Nassib is tough in the running game.
“He’s a very good pass rusher on the outside and he can also play inside in some nickel situations,” Bowles said. “He has a lot of versatility, he brings a lot of energy, brings a lot of toughness, and he understands the system. He was comfortable in it. We look forward to him coming here.”
Nassib became the NFL’s first openly gay active player in June 2021 while he was with the Las Vegas Raiders. In an online video he shared online at the time, Nassib said: “I’m a pretty private person, so I hope you guys know that I’m really not doing this for attention. I just think that representation and visibility are so important.”
The Buccaneers were shorthanded at outside linebacker after Cam Gill suffered a Lisfranc injury in the preseason opener.
Nassib spent the last two seasons with the Raiders after playing 29 games with Tampa Bay in 2018-19. Nassib started his career with Cleveland after being a third-round draft pick out of Penn State in 2016.