New England Patriots’ Ryan O’Callaghan comes out as gay
A former player for the New England Patriots who was part of the team’s undefeated season back in 2007 has announced he is gay.
Offensive tackle Ryan O’Callaghan shared the news with Out Sports, in a devastating interview where he admits that he had initially planned to end his life rather than come out of the closet.
He entered the league in the 2006 draft, when he was selected in the fifth round by the New England Patriots.
A shoulder injury led to him being cut before the start of the 2009 season, at which point he joined the Kansas City Chiefs.
O’Callaghan, 33, then left the Chiefs, and the league, after another shoulder injury around that time, at which point he began abusing prescription drugs and devising a plan to commit suicide.
He had even written a note, distanced himself from friends and family and built a small cabin that he filled with guns where he planned to take his own life.
Pride: Ryan O’Callaghan(above) has come out as gay in a new interview
Perfect: The former football star was a member of the New England Patriots, and played during the team’s undefeated 2007 season (above with Tom Brady in 2006)
Hodor: He was cut from the Patriots ahead of the 2009 season, and went to play with the Kansas City Chiefs (above in 2010)
‘I was abusing painkillers, no question,’ said O’Callaghan.
‘It helped with the pain of the injuries, and with the pain of being gay. I just didn’t worry about being gay when I took the Vicodin. I just didn’t worry.’
That habit was also at one point costing him $400 every day, and slowly eating away at the money he had made during his years in the league.
‘I started spending all my money to put myself in a position where it would be impossible, or at least extremely difficult, to back out of killing myself,’ explained O’Callaghan.
He was able to successfully hide his sexuality prior to that, especially during his time on the Patriots.
‘All you are there to do is whatever it takes to win,’ said O’Callaghan of his years playing under Bill; Belichick and alongside Tom Brady.
‘Distractions were not allowed. Everyone on the team had a job, knew their job and really focused on doing that. As little comfort as it did bring, it did help.’
He also said that despite what many may assume, he never heard a homophobic slur used while he was in the NFL.
The locker rooms did present another problem however for O’Callaghan.
‘There is so much talk about women in the locker room, even in the NFL,” said the California native.
‘I’d just turn around and ignore it. I figured I couldn’t even talk about it well, like they would see through me if I did.’
He also admitted that when he was invited to the anniversary party of Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his late-wife Myrna, he had to call up a friend’s ex-girlfriend to come as his date.
Through it all, he considered football his ‘beard.’
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