Wade Davis shares the pressure of being gay in the NFL

Wade Davis, a former NFL player, came out as gay last year. Now the ex-cornerback of the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks is sharing the pressures of being gay in the NFL. 

In an interview with SB Nation, Davis explained he wanted to share his struggles to hopefully inspire and help others.

"I started to realize that, you know what, there's an opportunity here for me to really make and effect change, not only within myself but in the world," Davis said.

Davis also told Amy Nelson, host of SB Nation, that when he was growing up, he believed that being gay was wrong, and that he was afraid his family wouldn't accept him.

He also believed his fans wouldn't accept him, believing that the perception of being gay "meant that you're less masculine," Wade said. 

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Wade may have perfect timing in sharing his struggles with being a gay man in professional football. In a May 2012 article, OutSports.com spoke with dozens of football players ranging from rookies to retired veterans who all expressed their support for a gay-friendly NFL. 

Jevon Kearse was a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end who also played for the Tennessee Titans, told OutSports, “In the game of football, it’s like a war out there. Once you get out on the field, all that stuff is to the side. You’re on my side. I played in the NFL for 11 years, I’m sure there were at least one or two guys along the line that were gay.”

While Wade never actually played a single game in the NFL, he may have an even larger impact in how the game is played. He said he has come to terms with who he is, and now can live out his dreams. “How many people get to live out their two dreams? I got to play in the NFL, and now I get to change the world.”

Watch his entire interview with SB Nation: