Jacksonville Jaguars assistant strength coach Kevin Maxen comes out publicly as gay
Jacksonville Jaguars assistant strength and conditioning coach Kevin Maxen decided on Thursday to come out publicly as gay in hopes of living his life without fear and to inspire others.
“I don’t want to feel like I have to think about it anymore,” Maxen told Outsports. “I don’t want to feel like I have to lie about who I am seeing, or why I am living with someone else. 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 is believed to be the first male coach in major American men’s pro sports to come out as gay.
He has dated his boyfriend, Nick, for more than two years, according to Outsports.
Maxen has been the Jaguars assistant strength coach for more than two years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before joining Jacksonville’s coaching staff, he was a strength coach for the football teams at Baylor and Vanderbilt.
In February 2022, Maxen reached out to NFL player Carl Nassib, who came out as gay in 2021, to seek advice.
“For a while I had such an anger for myself and hatred that I thought was from a fear of what others might think about who I am,” Maxen said, per Outsports. “But that wasn’t it. It was an anger and hatred of myself because I put myself in a life where I was living by other people’s rules and not by my own. And I was right to be angry at myself for thinking that I had to live in the image of anyone else.”
Former Jaguars center Brandon Linder, who Maxen coached, said in a message to Maxen that his courageousness will inspire others.
“Kevin, I’m proud to call you a friend and excited to see what the future holds for you Kev,” Linder said to Maxen, via Outsports. “I know your story can help so many people. You the man! All shall be well!”
Maxen and the Jaguars will begin training camp this week. Jaguars rookies report to training camp Friday. Jaguars veterans report to camp Tuesday, July 25.
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