Former NFL player Jeff Rohrer recently made headlines off the football field for his groundbreaking personal life. Rohrer played for the Dallas Cowboys during the 1980s, a time when there were no openly gay players in the sport. Rohrer was one of the few players to eventually come out as gay, which shocked fans and colleagues alike.
Successful Career
Jeff Rohrer was known for his hard-hitting style of play as a linebacker. During his time as a Cowboy, he played in 83 games, starting in 59 of them, and recording 7.5 sacks. Rohrer was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1982 NFL Draft after playing college football at Yale.
It was a solid career, albeit not Hall of Fame-worthy, before his injuries forced him into retirement. Following his playing career, Rohrer transitioned into television production and spent time working behind the scenes on a variety of projects.
But it wasn’t Rohrer’s football career or time in television production that launched him back into the spotlight. Rohrer publicly came out as gay, shortly after marrying his partner, Joshua Ross, a younger skincare business owner in Los Angeles.
Rohrer’s marriage surprised many who knew him. Many celebrated the decision for its social impact. His coming out made him the first known former or current NFL player to marry, challenging long-held stereotypes about being a professional athlete. There have been a few players since Rohrer’s time in the NFL who came out, none of whom were married while playing.
Jeff Rohrer Speaks Openly About His Marriage
Recently, Jeff Rohrer made headlines again after an interview where he spoke candidly about his marriage. His husband is more than 10 years younger than him, causing Rohrer to joke “My husband likes daddies.” The quote got attention for being playful and lighthearted but also highlighted their age gap. Many in the gay community use “daddy” to refer to older partners and some found it refreshing to hear how Rohrer embraces his identity and relationship.
The comment marked a shift for Rohrer, who kept his sexuality a secret due to his fear that he’d be rejected in the hyper-masculine world of the NFL. Many are inspired by how open he is today about his life and believe that his story shows that being authentic and loving can happen even in less-than-welcoming environments. Some believe that his marriage to Ross and the discussions it’s opened up have created greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ players in sports, which remains a challenging frontier for many.
Today Jeff Rohrer is celebrated for both his career accomplishments with the Cowboys, as well as for living authentically and breaking down barriers from the past.
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