“Football is for everyone." That NFL message took on new meaning during Pride Month, as a report found that the league leads all men's sports in the United States in supporting LGBTQIA+ communities.

Vegas Insider released the study this month after reviewing how leagues and teams support LGBTQ communities through donations, events, partnerships, and public advocacy.

"According to the study, the NFL has had 60 different team initiatives to help LGBTQ people,” Shawn Laib of Outsports wrote on Thursday. “And the league had the highest score when determining a history of inclusion."

The NFL earned the highest score of 314 in the survey for its long-term efforts to create a more welcoming environment.

The study measured actions that directly support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities. 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has publicly spoken about supporting his gay brother by being “proud” of him. The league has also partnered with GLAAD to host annual "Night of Pride" events during Super Bowl week in the last few years.

"Our policies have been designed to be well within the law, well within the practice," Goodell said in February. "We think we're better when we get different perspectives, people with different backgrounds, whether they're women or men or people of color, we make ourselves stronger, and we make ourselves better when we have that."

Former player Dave Kopay became the first athlete from a major men's professional sports league to come out publicly in 1975.

The league has also had 16 current or former players come out as gay or bisexual over the past 50 years. That total is higher than all other major men's professional leagues combined, although the NFL also carries the largest rosters.

But 61% of NFL fans believe football needs to do more to create an inclusive environment, while 55% think their favorite teams should increase their efforts.

While the league’s overall efforts toward the LGBTQIA+ community have been recognized, not all teams have shown the same level of engagement.

Several NFL franchises face criticism over a lack of Pride month engagement

Pride Month begins annually on June 1, when sports teams share public messages of support and inclusion.

Across the NFL, teams showed varying levels of engagement on social media, with some posting greetings at the start of the month and others not.

“Several NFL teams have posted about Pride Month, as well. However, according to a report from Outkick, nine NFL teams did not take part in Pride Month celebrations on social media on Monday, June 1,”  Andrew Holleran of The Spun stated.

The teams that did not post Pride Month content at the beginning of June include the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints.

What is your take on the NFL's approach to Pride Month? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Shreya Mishra

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore