Former Malvern Prep, Penn State defensive end Carl Nassib retires from football

The next chapter in the life and career of Carl Nassib won’t revolve around him having to don a football helmet and pads for an NFL team.

After seven seasons and “just over 100 games,” Nassib announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday to focus on a number of business ventures, namely his company, Rayze, an application-based platform that uses social media to help with philanthropic efforts.

Nassib, the former Malvern Prep star and walk-on at Penn State, spent his seven seasons in the NFL as a defensive end with Cleveland (2016-17), Las Vegas (2020-21), and Tampa Bay (2018-19, 2022).

In addition to Rayze, Nassib has been a spokesperson for an organization called Financial Finesse that produces an initiative called NIL Long Game, which is designed to help college athletes navigate the world of name, image, and likeness opportunities. Nassib said the initiative is special for him because he remembers the struggles of being a college athlete.

Nassib will be remembered as a walk-on for the Nittany Lions in 2011 who ended his college career as an All-American and the 2015 recipient of the Hendricks Award, given to the best defensive end in college football. He was a finalist for both the Bronko Nagurski and Burlsworth awards.

» READ MORE: West Chester’s Carl Nassib becomes first active NFL player to announce he’s gay

He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, but he made considerable headlines during the 2021 season when he became the first active player in the league to disclose that he is gay.

“I remember being a college athlete on a top team and not knowing how to take care of or support myself,” Nassib told The Inquirer earlier this year. “My goal with this initiative is to help these future athletes navigate what can be a scary time but focus on why their brand is one companies should be paying attention to — and compensating accordingly.”