First Active Football Player to Come Out as Non-Straight

A redshirt freshman kicker at Willamette University this week became the first active college football player to come out publicly as non-straight, revealing to Outsports.com that he’s bisexual and has a boyfriend. Conner Mertens first told his team and coaches at Willamette, a Division III program in a politically conservative area of Oregon, before going to the media. Mertens also tweeted out a letter explaining his decision and encouraging his peers.

“I refuse to apologize for being who I am. I am the same person that I was yesterday,” he wrote. “Don’t let society dictate who you can and cannot be simply because it doesn’t fit their perception of who you are supposed to be.”