In a groundbreaking moment, Kevin Maxen, the associate strength coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, made a historic announcement on Thursday, confirming that he is gay. This courageous revelation marks him as the first known male coach in major U.S. professional sports to openly embrace his identity as a gay man.
Since joining the Jaguars in 2021, Maxen has earned widespread respect for his professionalism and exceptional skills. Speaking with Outsports, he shared that his decision to come out was driven by a deep desire to inspire others while remaining true to himself.
Maxen’s football journey includes playing for Division III Western Connecticut State University and coaching at Baylor and Vanderbilt. He expressed his aspiration to support people in living authentically without the fear of judgment, while also emphasizing the importance of living his own life without fear, saying:
“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 in a relationship with his boyfriend, Nick, for two years. Seeing his colleagues introduce their families inspired him to come out. Maxen also confided in Carl Nassib, the first NFL player to come out as gay, before making his decision.
Marcus Pollard, Jacksonville’s director of player development, praised Maxen for his unwavering dedication, hard work, and positive impact on the team’s strength and conditioning.
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