As Michael Sam, an NFL draft prospect, came out recently, the questions arises: Is the NFL ready to have an openly gay player?Sam, previously a defensive lineman for Missouri, hopes to become the first openly gay player in the NFL. He was nominated the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and before coming out, ESPN draft projections estimated Sam as a mid-to-late round draft pick. However, speaking solely of his draft stock, Sam’s coming out may have lowering effects on his stock.

Before we commence judging the NFL for possible homophobia, it is important to acknowledge that the league has never had an openly gay player before. Ever. Might have there been gay players before who never came out? Most definitely. Despite the players’macho appearances and masculine attributes, sexual orientation has no direct correlation. After all, Sam, who is 6 foot 2 inches, 260 pounds, and the epitome of masculinity, is gay.

With the potential of being the first openly gay player in the league follows celebrity, media hype, and a publicity circus. Some teams may decide that the publicity of having Sam in their locker rooms may outweigh the positive contributions he can give to the team. This scenario is relatable to the Tebow frenzy last season, as teams opted to pass up on Tebow for a possibly less qualified quarterback simply due to his hype.

These teams and their players, openly admit that having a gay player among their commonplace would call for an uncomfortable setting. This setting brought on by a gay player in the locker room may distract other players and possibly affect their performance on the field. There is also the additional matter of communal showers but recent polls by ESPN show that most players are willing to share showers with an openly gay player.

Players around the league want to accept gay culture into their lives but the current situation does not create an environment that fosters the possibility of allowing an openly gay player in the league. The debate over whether or not the NFL will accept openly gay players into the league is a milestone in itself. A couple decades ago, this would not have been a topic of issue. Regardless, there is much discussion that needs to take place before any firm decisions take place.

Joon Sang Kim
Phillips Exeter Academy
10th Grade