Ex-NFL lineman Ryan O'Callaghan reveals he's gay

Former NFL lineman Ryan O'Callaghan is featured in a lengthy and powerful article by OutSports.com's Cyd Zeigler in which O'Callaghan tells the story of coming out as gay to his general manager and family, his aborted plan to commit suicide, and eventual path toward coming out publicly.

O'Callaghan played 51 games across five years in his NFL career, half of them with the New England Patriots and half with the Kansas City Chiefs.

He planned to kill himself when his NFL career ended, he told Zeigler, but that plan changed in part because of conversations he had with a team therapist and eventually then-Chiefs GM Scott Pioli:

The day before he had called his general manager, who had become a good friend, to ask him for a meeting. Pioli had known about O'Callaghan's drug abuse, and the gravity in his player's voice over the phone told him that something dire was on his mind.

"He had built this up like he was coming in to tell me that maybe he had done something truly terrible," Pioli remembered.

O'Callaghan trudged into Pioli's office the next day. After a hug and some small talk, O'Callaghan turned serious. He told Pioli he had been visiting with Wilson and had gotten "clean." It was good news to Pioli.

"I've got something else I've got to tell you," O’Callaghan said. At this point he was fighting back tears. Pioli's mind raced, wondering if his player had harmed or killed someone.

"I'm gay," O’Callaghan said.

His private announcement was met with immediate support from the GM.

"So what's the problem you wanted to talk me about?" Pioli asked.

Today, O'Callaghan is still dealing with injuries suffered playing football but has the support of his family and hopes his story helps other struggling LGBT people.

"As long as there are people killing themselves because they are gay, there is a reason for people like me to share my story and try to help," he said.