Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib appreciated a “extraordinary evening” Monday as he turned into the primary transparently gay NFL player to highlight in a standard season game.
Nassib featured in the Raiders’ exhilarating 33-27 success over the Baltimore Ravens – the main game with fans at Allegiant Stadium – and delivered an unequivocal strip sack on Ravens quarterback Lemar Jackson in additional time.
That play set up the match dominating score for the Raiders as wide recipient Zay Jones got Derek Carr’s 31-yard pass.
“It was really special. I’m really happy that we got the win on the day that kind of made a little bit of history which was really nice to do,” Nassib told reporters.
“Had a lot of people come before me in the LGBTQ community that helped me get to where I am. I’m super thankful for that. I can’t wait to get to Pittsburgh next week and keep this thing going.”
Recently, 28-year-old Nassib, who has played for three groups more than five years in the NFL, turned into the first active player in the history of the league to declare that he is gay.
Gotten some information about his sack on Jackson, Nassib added: “The ball is everything. Getting turnovers is the make or break of a good defense … I was glad I could get the ball out in a really clutch situation.”
In a rollercoaster Monday Night Football season opener, the Ravens moved into a mid 14-0 lead, just for the Raiders to paw their direction back consistently, tying the game on three separate occasions in the fourth quarter.
With seven seconds of the fourth quarter remaining, Daniel Carlson nailed a vocation long, 55-yard field goal to tie the game at 27-27.
The Raiders seemed to seal the success on a Bryan Edwards catch and jump over the objective line in additional time. It was administered a score on the field, starting wild festivals, however replay survey showed Wilson was down before the ball crossed the objective line.
As the Raiders kept on pushing for the success, a toss from Carr was deflected and caught in the endzone by Anthony Averett.
Nonetheless, the Ravens’ satisfaction was short-lived as Nassib sacked Jackson, compelling a bobble that was recovered by Darius Philon, before Carr discovered Jones for the game winning touchdown to the pleasure of the home fans.
“It was bananas,” Nassib said of the air, adding: “We loved the enthusiasm, it was absolutely incredible that the fans are back. This was my first experience of Raiders fans — by far the best NFL fans I’ve ever seen.”