Openly Gay Kicker Sets His Sights On The NFL

Openly gay kicker Alan Gendreau is setting his sights on the NFL.

The former Middle Tennessee State player is hoping to make the cut when he tries out for the National Football League later this year. Although he would become the first openly gay player in the NFL, he said that isn’t his ultimate goal. Gendreau just wants to play professional football.

“I’m a kicker that happens to be gay. It’s a part of who I am, and not everything I am. I just want to be known as a normal kicker,” he recently explained.

Although much has been made about the fact that Gendreau is openly gay, he’s also an incredibly talented kicker. He is reportedly the highest scorer in Sun Belt Conference history. He racked up a total of 255 points by the time his college career was over.

Former NFL player Wade Davis told Outsports that he doesn’t think Alan Gendreau’s sexual orientation will prevent him from making it into the pros. He said that the league is a business, and their decisions are based on whether or not the kicker will be an asset.

“They want the best players who can help them win. If this kid can kick 50-yarders consistently, then they’ll have him. But if he can’t, they won’t. Him being gay won’t have anything to do with it,” Davis added.

Although the kicker was openly gay in high school and at Middle Tennessee State, he said he decided to chat with Outsports anonymously during his freshmen year in high school. Gendreau said he didn’t want his sexual orientation to harm his family or his chances at the NFL.

“My whole thing in this is just to help anybody who is struggling with coming out. I want people to know that I didn’t have a problem with it, and they shouldn’t, either,” he explained.

Do you think an openly gay kicker has a chance at landing a position with the NFL?

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