When NBA player and former Net Jason Collins announced he is gay earlier this year, it created a stir as no active player in the Big Four professional sports had ever come out.
Well, according to a story on the Houston Chronicle’s website, several Houston Oilers from the 1993 season said two of their teammates were gay — and no one on that playoff team cared.
“Listen, those guys that we’re talking about were unbelievable teammates. And if you wanted to go to war with someone, you would get those guys first. Because I have never seen tougher guys than those guys,” linebacker Lamar Lathon told the Chronicle.
Strong safety Bubba McDowell said it was “no big deal” sharing the showers with the gay players.
The Warren Moon-led Oilers went 12-4 in 1993 before losing in the divisional round of the playoffs in a season marked by dysfunction. Kevin Gilbride, currently with the Giants, was the offensive coordinator on that team, and Buddy Ryan — father of Rex — was the defensive coordinator.