Queer Cincinnati Bengals exec reveals why he kept secret closeted for decades during NFL career
There was Michael Sam, an openly gay linebacker who was drafted in 2014 but failed to make the 53-man rosters with the St. Louis Rams or Dallas Cowboys. Later came Carl Nassib, a Las Vegas Raiders defensive end, came out publicly in 2021. Others like offensive linemen Ryan O'Callaghan and Kwame Harris revealed their sexuality after retiring.
Brennan, who describes himself as queer, falls into the latter group.
An 'excellent human being,' according to legendary reporter Peter King, Brennan penned the upcoming autobiography, Football Sissy: A Cross-Dressing Memoir, which details the obstacles he and others have faced in a league environment that's often inhospitable to the LGBTQ+ community.
'I didn't come out until I left the NFL,' the native Texan and lifelong football fanatic told USA Today, 'so I guess I felt that way.'
Brennan stressed to USA Today's Mike Freeman his belief that the NFL commissioner's office and the Bengals are both tolerant organizations.
Regardless, the father of three and his wife were still nervous the league or team could learn about his crossdressing. Even if Bengals owner Mike Brown wouldn't fire him, players and coaches might feel uncomfortable working with Brennan, and that could result in him being reassigned.
'When I was working,' he told The Athletic in 2021, 'I was terribly afraid of people finding out, but it never crippled me enough to stop dressing. I'm obviously not as afraid now, but culture breeds self-shaming in queers.
'It's particularly hard to come out to male friends I've known for years in very heterosexist and traditionally male environments. The process is really only just beginning now.'
Speaking to USA Today for Monday's piece, Brennan acknowledged his difficulties with the NFL environment.
'Sometimes people would make slurs or insensitive comments in the office, or in the locker room,' he said.
Brennan was also concerned that his presence in the locker room could become a distraction.
'Would the Bengals think it was inappropriate for me to be walking around the locker room around players not always wearing clothes?' Brennan asked Freeman.
But in coming out in the years since his retirement, Brennan now sees the process as cathartic.
More importantly, he believes the act of being honest will help others do the same.
'I wanted to write something good and informative,' Brennan told USA Today. 'I also wanted to write something that would help people. I think one thing I wanted to say was if you're in the LGBTQ community, and you want to help other people in it, you can do so by coming out.'
As for the current NFL, Brennan credits the league with incremental progress.
Still, he's concerned the Trump Administration's efforts to erase protections for LGBTQ+ people, not to mention their visibility, could be adopted by the NFL's billionaire owners.
'I just hope the NFL doesn't,' Brennan said.
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