NFL coach Kevin Maxen makes LGBTQ+ history after coming out as gay
NFL coach Kevin Maxen has made LGBTQ+ history with his groundbreaking coming-out announcement. After years of hiding his identity, the associate strength coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars publicly opened up about his sexuality in a heartfelt interview with OutSports. “I don’t want to feel like I have to think about it anymore.
I don’t want to feel like I have to lie about who I am seeing, or why I am living with someone else,” he explained to the news outlet. “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.” While Maxen had been wrestling with the idea of coming out for years, he revealed that his family, friends and longtime partner Nicholas Garcia helped him take the leap of faith this past year. “It wasn’t until recently – and with the immense love and support of my family, my friends, colleagues and peers and the courage and sacrifice from my partner – that I realised I have the right and responsibility to love and be loved, and that maybe sharing this will hopefully give someone else the strength to accept their own life and take control of their own story,” he explained.
Elsewhere in his interview, Maxen admitted that his coming out announcement also stemmed from seeing his Jaguar organisation peers openly discussing or introducing their romantic partners. “You have other coaches who have significant others, and they’re talking about their significant others.
And I felt guilty that I couldn’t do the same thing, that I was letting myself down,” he said. “I want the person I’m with to be able to share that with me.
