Jaguars assistant strength coach Kevin Maxen comes out as gay for the first time to the US-based professional leagues

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars associate strength coach Kevin Maxen has become the first male coach in a major US professional league to come out as gay.

Maxen spoke about his sexual orientation in an interview published on Thursday by Outsports.

“I don’t want to feel like I have to think about it anymore,” Maxen said. “I don’t want to feel like I have to lie about who I’m seeing or why I’m living with someone else.

“I want to be a vocal advocate for people living the way they want to live, but I also want to just live and not be afraid of how people will react.”

While Maxen’s announcement is a first for a male coach, NFL players have already spoken out. Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted when the then St. Louis Rams picked him in 2014. In 2021, Carl Nassib, then with the Las Vegas Raiders, became the first active NFL player to come out publicly. Nassib played for Tampa Bay last season.

A number of US league coaches have spoken out, including Katie Sowers, a former assistant with the San Francisco 49ers.

Maxen said he no longer feels comfortable hiding his sexuality or his boyfriend of two years.

“There are other coaches who have significant others, and they talk about their significant others,” Maxen said. “And I felt bad because I couldn’t do the same and I let myself down.”