Nassib enrolled at
Pennsylvania State University and joined the
Nittany Lions team as a
walk-on in 2011.[7][8][9] After not playing his first two years, he played in 10 games as a sophomore in 2013, during coach
Bill O'Brien's second and final season with the team. Nassib recorded 12
tackles and one
sack. As a junior, he appeared in all 13 games and had seven tackles and one sack.[10] He became a
starter for the first time his senior year in 2015.[11][12][13] Nassib reached 10 sacks in only six games to start the year.[14]
Nassib was selected by the
Cleveland Browns in the third round of the
2016 NFL draft with the 65th pick.[22][23] On June 28, Nassib signed a four-year contract worth about $3.2 million, with signing bonus worth approximately $890,000.[24]
Nassib was waived by the Browns on September 2, 2018.[26]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (first stint)
On September 3, 2018, Nassib was claimed off waivers by the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[27][28] He set career highs in both sacks (6.5) and
tackles for loss (12) in 2018, both higher than his career totals in both categories going into the season.[29] In two seasons with the Buccaneers, he started 17 games and totaled 12.5 sacks.[4]
Las Vegas Raiders
On March 27, 2020, Nassib signed a three-year, $25 million contract, including $16.75 million guaranteed, with the
Las Vegas Raiders.[30][31] In Week 10 of the
2020 season against the
Denver Broncos, Nassib recorded his first career
interception in the 37–12 win.[32]
In the Raiders'
2021 season opener against
Baltimore, broadcast on Monday Night Football, Nassib
strip sacked Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson in overtime, which Las Vegas recovered to set up the winning touchdown in a 33–27 win.[33] In that appearance, he became the first openly gay player in NFL history to play in a game.[34] He played in 13 games during the season with 21 tackles and 1+1⁄2 sacks.[35] He became the first openly gay player in an NFL playoff game on January 15, 2022.[36][37] In the offseason, he was released by the Raiders on March 17, 2022.[38]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (second stint)
On August 16, 2022, Nassib signed with the Buccaneers[39][40][41] and chose 93 as his jersey number[42] but was ultimately able to secure his original jersey number 94 that he played in starting in high school. The one-year deal was a veteran salary benefit contract for $1.05M with a $152,500 signing bonus.[43]
Nassib announced his retirement from the NFL on September 6, 2023.[44]
On June 21, 2021, during
Pride Month,[2] Nassib released a statement on his
Instagram account stating that he is gay, becoming the
first active NFL player to come out publicly.[2][45] In the statement, he pledged to donate $100,000 to
The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to crisis intervention and
suicide prevention among
LGBTQ youth, and to continue to champion their work.[46] He received public support from the NFL, Raiders, Penn State, and current and former athletes.[4] That day, jerseys and T-shirts with his name were the top sellers among all NFL players at
Fanatics, the league's sales partner.[47] In 2023, Nassib was in a relationship with Danish
OlympianSøren Dahl.[48][49][50]