Former Cowboys WR Dez Bryant doesn’t hold back on NFL’s gay pride post: “Football is none of these things”

Pride Month is in full swing as companies, industries and organizations show their support for the LGBTQ+ community, and the NFL is no different. It may not be in season, but the NFL came out with a commercial with a strong message supporting this month’s celebrations, that at least one former player is not on board with.

Dez said what?

Dez Bryant, former NFL wide receiver who spent most of his time with the Dallas Cowboys, never shied away from the microphones and that often brought along a healthy helping of controversy.

Since retiring in 2020 he has taken to social media to express his views and opinions. He uses his platform to stay somewhat in the spotlight, but this time his post seems to have backfired.

The NFL released a advertisement on the first day of June, in which it said among other things, “Football is gay. Football is lesbian. Football is beautiful. Football is queer. Football is transgender. Football is for everyone.” It was an inclusive message on a sport that has furthered from it’s macho perception, even welcoming players who have been brave enough to come out while still playing.

Bryant “has nothing against gays”

Dez Bryant responded to the advertisement, and his post on Twitter didn’t sit well with some people. He responded, “Football is gay. Football is queer. Football is transgender… These are wild statements to make… excuse my silliness… I’m going to proudly tell my boys football is none of these things… I have nothing against Gays but this is far from right.”

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Football has opened it’s arms more and more to the LGBTQ+ community over the last few years, most notably with Carl Nassib who became the first openly gay player to play a regular season game in the NFL. Others have come out after retirement, and have been embraced by the league and it’s teams.

Bryant was once the future of the Cowboys offense, signing a big money contract in 2015, but a decline in production and behavior brought a swift end to those sentiments in Big D. He never had another 1,000 yard season after singing his contract and quickly fell from grace as he was ousted from Dallas after the 2017 season.