Former NFL lineman Ryan O’Callaghan spent six seasons in the NFL playing for both the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Football was integral to his life, not just to earn a living, but to keep his identity as a gay man hidden.

KANSAS CITY, MI – CIRCA 2010: In this handout image provided by the NFL, Ryan O’Callaghan of the Kansas City Chiefs poses for his 2010 NFL headshot circa 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)

“I used football as kind of a cover for my life,” O’Callaghan told SB Nation. “Football was the most masculine thing I could do, so I decided to dedicate myself to football and I thought it’d be a great cover…I was real happy when I got out to New England. People are really only focused on winning. That really worked out for my situation.”

The 33-year-old knew football would only last for so long. Injuries started to pile up and as he looked ahead to life after his pro career, things looked bleak.

“My whole plan was to end my life after football…I thought I couldn’t ever be an ‘out’ gay man.”

He even went so far as to write a suicide letter. Luckily, however, one staff member from the Chiefs encouraged him to get help.

“I’m just glad there were people that were looking out for me that pushed me in the right direction to actually get help.”

O’Callaghan opened up to Outsports about his time in the closet while playing the NFL, and then coming out to his loved ones and the public.

As he came out to more and more people, his eyes opened to a world of support he had not anticipated. He shared his story with various people in the NFL, including his Cal teammate Aaron Rodgers and his Chiefs teammate Dustin Colquitt. Each of them pledged their support when he shared his true self.

Thanks to that early support, O’Callaghan took a leap several years ago that he thought would be his big coming-out-to-the-world moment.

In 2014 he was being inducted into the Shasta County Sports Hall of Fame. He had moved back to Redding, a familiar place with a support system where he could continue to learn how to manage his addiction.

He decided the thing to do at these events was to bring a significant other. O’Callaghan embraced the moment and brought his then-boyfriend, thanking him from the stage.

The piece is definitely worth the read.

As for whether the NFL would embrace openly gay players today?

“Guys just have to understand, ‘he’s’ gay. It doesn’t mean he wants to date you. He just wants to be your teammate. It’s not a big deal.” (SB Nation)