NFL owner Arthur Blank reportedly donates $1 million to Trevor Project

When it comes to gay barrier breakers on the field, Carl Nassib is one of the most important men in sports. Nassib was the first NFL player to come out as gay while on an active roster in the league when he publicly came out in 2021 while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.

No other player has come out while active in the league in the last five years, meaning that Nassib’s name is going to stay as relevant as ever. What he’s decided to do with that fame has been awesome for LGBTQ people.

He works closely with The Trevor Project, which has included him making a $100,000 donation to the organization the year he came out. This week Nassib posted that he is still working with the LGBTQ advocacy organization and has received support from the Atlanta Falcons ownership.

“I am incredibly grateful to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for their extraordinary $1 million donation to The Trevor Project and everyone at the Atlanta Falcons for their heartfelt support.”

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Nassib continued by saying, “This donation helps fund counselor training, enhance volunteer services and ensure our critical programs reach LGBTQ+ youth in their most vulnerable moments. Thank you again to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, this gift will save lives.”

Nassib said on LinkedIn that he spoke alongside Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan — posting a photo of the two — as well as Leigh Jakes, who currently works as a youth development director for Atlanta United FC.

While not specifying an amount, Laurette M., director of individual philanthropy for Trevor Project partially overseeing relationships with “major donors,” also posted to LinkedIn, thanking the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for working with Trevor Project.

“It’s always powerful to see an organization invest not only in the communities around it, but also in the culture it builds internally,” she said. “Creating space for learning, reflection, and connection like this matters more than people often realize.”

There has been a large embracing of religious culture in the NFL for decades. That has sometimes spilled over into apparent homophobia, most recently after the Jaden Ivey controversy in the NBA — anti-gay comments by the player that got him cut by the Chicago Bulls — and the response from TreVeyon Henderson.

Seeing a former star like Matt Ryan and an owner like Arthur Blank put their names and money behind The Trevor Project is yet another step in the right direction for the NFL and the people around the league.

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