EP 158: OUT former NFL player Ryan O'Callaghan chats about his memoir, My Life On The Line, about his life, career and coming out

Mar 4, 2021

Join Kelli and Anne for their 158th NEW episode!

Their special guest today is OUT former NFL player Ryan O’Callaghan. He wrote a memoir called My Life On The Line about his career as a closeted player and how it almost ended his life. Anne just finished reading it and was touched by his honesty and how raw and powerful the truth can be. They are so happy that he could be here to tell his story.

Ryan talks about how he built his football career all in attempt to hide his sexuality. After starting football his Freshman year in high school, he rocketed to success as an athlete. He went to University of California, Berkeley on a scholarship and then was drafted by the New England Patriots. After a few years there he moved to the Kansas City Chiefs. Along the way his body was taking a beating with injuries which led to lots of prescription pain medication and eventually serious addiction issues. Hear how he was able to finally come out to his family all while beating his addiction. 

 

When he finally decided to come out publicly he was shocked by the positive support he received from former teammates, coaches, owners and the general public. He has gone on to start The Ryan O’Callaghan Foundation to help support LGBT athletes so that no one else has to feel the despair he once felt as a closeted athlete who thought suicide was his only answer for so long.  Check it out at www.ROFDN.org and get his book, My Life On The Line, on Amazon or a bookstore near you & follow him on instagram @ocallaghanryan