Jaguar’s Kevin Maxen Becomes First Gay Coach In Major American Men’s Sports

Jaguar’s Kevin Maxen Becomes First Coach In Major American Men’s Sports To Come Out As Gay

Jaguars assistant strength and conditioning coach Kevin Maxen has become the first male coach in major American men’s professional sports to publicly come out as gay.

Kevin said he made the decision because he didn’t want to hide who he is any longer and to possibly inspire others in similar situations.

“I don’t want to feel like I have to think about it anymore,” Maxen said in the piece published Thursday afternoon. “I don’t want to feel like I have to lie about who I am seeing or why I am living with someone else.

 

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“I want to be vocal in support of people living how they want to live, but I also want to just live and not feel fear about how people will react.”

Maxen has been with the Jaguars since the 2021 season. He previously was a strength coach at Baylor and Vanderbilt and also worked as an intern at Iowa and Army.

A few female coaches in U.S.-based leagues have come out publicly, including Katie Sowers, a former assistant with the San Francisco 49ers.

While Maxen’s announcement is a first for a male coach, NFL players have come out previously. Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted when the then-St. Louis Rams selected him in 2014. In 2021, Carl Nassib, then with the Las Vegas Raiders, became the first active NFL player to come out publicly. Nassib played for Tampa Bay last season.