‘Proud of you’: NFL players welcome Carl Nassib’s decision to come out

• Defensive end is league's first active player to come out as gay
• Stars including JJ Watt and Julian Edelman welcome decision

Carl Nassib's decision to come out as gay, the first time an active NFL player has chosen to do so, was welcomed across the league from coaches and teams to some of the biggest names in the sport.

It is hardly a secret that gay players have always existed in the NFL, but a fear of a backlash from fans, teammates and their employers stopped them from doing so. Now times appear to be slowly changing.