R.K. Russell
R.K. Russell is a former professional football player in the NFL, and is a published author, social justice advocate, poet, essayist, and artist. In August of 2019, Russell made history by becoming the first out active NFL player to identify as bisexual. Now in his powerful memoir The Yards Between Us, he shares his story and explores his love of football, the devastating tightrope of keeping his sexuality a secret, the tension between his private and public life, and the importance of crashing through barriers. A decorated defensive end who has played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has sacked Hall of Famers and gone up against the fiercest competitors at the height of their game.
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THE YARDS BETWEEN US: BELONGING THROUGH LIFE, LOVE, AND FOOTBALL
“I worried that a young man who wrote poetry, drew pictures, and enjoyed slow songs about love would be seen as less masculine and, therefore, less of a football player. Being actually queer seemed like an instant, irreversible verdict on my belonging, on my right to exist in the male world of football.”
in this powerful talk, former the former NFL Defensive End shares his story and explores his love of football, men and women, walking the devastating tightrope of keeping his sexuality secret, the tension between his private and public lives, and the importance of crashing through barriers.
Through being cut, injured, and frustrating setbacks, Russell’s confidence lags as the secret of his sexuality weighs heavier and heavier. And when that frustration is combined with the devastating loss of his best friend and sole confidant, the darkness that follows also brings a deep understanding that perhaps it’s time to make a change. In Los Angeles, against the backdrop of the swaying palm trees and warm sands of Malibu, Russell falls in love and it’s the final push he needs to stand up for every part of himself—a professional athlete, a writer, a son, a friend, a lover, a bisexual Black man. R.K. Russell shows us the life-changing power of embracing who you are and fighting to make space so others can do the same.
See R.K. Russell in action.
First openly LGBTQ+ professional to play in the NFL
Ryan Russell is a former professional football player in the NFL, and is a published author, social justice advocate, poet, essayist, and artist. In August of 2019, Russell made history by becoming the first out active NFL player to identify as bisexual. Now in his powerful memoir The Yards Between Us, he shares his story and explores his love of football, the devastating tightrope of keeping his sexuality a secret, the tension between his private and public life, and the importance of crashing through barriers. A decorated defensive end who has played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has sacked Hall of Famers and gone up against the fiercest competitors at the height of their game. Since coming out, he has written about his experience as a Black queer man in sports for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Los Angeles Times, Out Magazine, and Queer Majority, among others. Russell has been advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in professional sports, spearheading multiple NFL Pride initiatives such as the NFL Super Bowl LVI Pride panel and the NFL’s National Coming Out Day PSA. His short documentary “Finding Free” was nominated for a Sports Emmy and won a Webby. He has been honored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) by GAY TIMES (U.K.) as Sportsperson of the Year, and he was selected to the prestigious OUT 100 List in 2019.
Sony Pictures Television is adapting R.K.’s ground-breaking memoir into a half-hour comedy series. Through the lens of R.K. Russell’s incredible journey, the show will explore topics rarely talked about in sports including intersectionality, race, sexuality and the expectation of masculinity. Russell will continue to support LGBTQ+ athletes and the community through his art as he writes and executive produces the TV adaptation alongside Saeed Crumpler and Gabrielle Union.
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Mind Reading: R.K. Russell, The First NFL Player To Come Out As Bisexual, Is Playing The Long Game To Break StigmaAmong celebrations the NFL staged around this year’s Super Bowl was the third “A Night of Pride,” for which the league partnered with GLAAD to spotlight its commitment to LGBTQ+…
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Ryan Russell, N.F.L. Free Agent, Comes Out as Bisexual: ‘It’s So Much Better Than Hiding’“I think the N.F.L. is definitely ready to accept an openly L.G.B.T.Q. player,” the defensive end said in an interview.
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‘The strongest fear I had ever felt’: RK Russell on coming out in the male world of footballIn an adapted extract from his new memoir, the former NFL player reflects on coming to terms with his queerness in college and the life-altering conversation that gave him salvation
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Trans kids deserve the same opportunity that made my NFL career possible This article is more than 2 years oldThe more than 200 anti-trans bills under consideration across the country are not about youth sports, but about attacking and eradicating the most vulnerable
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Op-Ed: L.A. transformed my relationship with football — and with myselfLos Angeles saved my life. I arrived in the city as a broken NFL player, after suffering a terrible injury, and at the heels of great personal grief.
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No distractions: An NFL veteran opens up on his sexualityRyan Russell is a three-year NFL veteran. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2015 after a successful college career at Purdue. He played one season with the Cowboys…
