Essays

This page shares Russell’s essays on LGBTQ+ advocacy, equality, poetry, sports, masculinity, and more. His writing and life mission is to promote inclusion and equality for all people in all areas of life. He often writes about his personal experiences and unique perspective.

Ready to read away? The essays are separated by publication.

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The New York Times

• Jon Gruden’s Emails Shocked Me. They Shouldn’t Have.

ESPN

• No distractions: An NFL veteran opens up on his sexuality

The Guardian

• Trans kids deserve the same opportunity that made my NFL career possible
• Luke Prokop’s choice to live an open and authentic life marks a new normal in sport
• The main lesson I was given as a college football star? Sports trump academics
• The first NFL playoff game with an active LGBTQ+ player is an important milestone
• Flores reminded us the NFL values Black players for our bodies, not our minds
• NFL players like me are cheered when we come out … and are soon unemployed

Out Sports

• Out NFL player R.K. Russell shares poems about the killings of 3 Black men

Fatherly

• I’m an NFL Defensive End and a Poet. This Is What Growing Up With a Single Mom Looks Like.

The Los Angeles Times

• L.A. transformed my relationship with football — and with myself

OUT

• Dear NFL: If You Want to Be LGBTQ+ Allies, Hire Out Players

Queer Majority

• Coming Out To Play
• The In-Between: The Poet and The Athlete
• Excellence Ain’t Equal
• Tributes
• The In-Between: Black Love and Interracial Dating
• Too Black To Be Queer

TWLOHA

• NFL Player R.K. Russell Tackles Mental Health Through Poetry

Elephant Journal

• 62 Words to help us Sit with the Heavy Stuff.
• How I know You & I will Fall in Love.