Even given the small percentage of actual gay people, it seems unfathomable that no people with gay tendencies have ever made it to the NFL.
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Roman Gabriel, QB for the LA Rams, was gay. The wide receiver that went by the nickname “Bambi”, Lance Rentzel, was also (I believe), and he married (briefly) Joey Hetherton (super hot!) who was a lez. Bambi made to the Hall of Fame in ‘78, after his careers at the Chargers and Cowboys.
I might be wrong about Rentzel, but that was the common talk around town when he was with the Cowboys.
I would not have particularly liked sharing a locker room or shower with a known gay. However, many things are “forgiven” when a player in ANY sport performs well to help the team win and does not disrupt the team in any way due to their personal sexual persuasions. Generally, being queer (male or female) is less damaging behaviour to a team than doing drugs or driving drunk and crashing, if the queer is a dependable contributor to team success.
I’d guess that probably 5% of college and pro sports teams are gay/lesbian.
I think 5% is too high. They compose 2-3.5% of the populace, so the extra 1.5-3% boost in their football playing share doesn’t make sense.
Especially given the general tendency to not be driven in pursuit of violent sport prowess. (Yes - that is a vast generalization, and does not mean individuals cannot be exceptions to the rule)
Just my $.02
During Alex Karras short tenure with Monday Night Football, he once said while watching a team huddle, “There a few guys in the huddle that you don’t turn your back on and bend over to pick up soap in the shower.”
Who cares! I love football. I hope the doogooders don’t ruin it, the latest rule change banning players from lowering their heads, is incredibly stupid. I didn’t explain the rule change very well.