My Life on the Line: How the NFL Damn Near Killed Me and Ended Up Saving My Life

"Coming out is not some cure-all that immediately washes away years of hiding and guilt and self-hatred. You don't just come out, suddenly find love, and live happily ever after. Learning to live with your true self after lying to everyone around you for so many years takes a lot of work, and a lot of practice" (205).Ryan O'Callaghan's "My Life on the Line" could be the most important memoir by an LGBTQ athlete ever written. I found myself glued to the pages and connecting deeply to the experiences that Ryan had to share. Ryan's life connects with individuals of all levels and is a testament to the challenges and opposition that LGBTQ athletes at all levels face when they bury their true self behind the oft hypermasculinity of rural society, athletics, alcohol and drugs. What is most refreshing about this read is the ownership that Ryan takes for his own struggles, and how much of the perceived intolerance is a product of our own fears of rejection. As an experienced High School coach, teacher and administrator, I cannot express enough how important this work is for our future generations of student-athletes. Having read numerous of Cyd Zeigler's pieces at Outsports.com, I was able to also once again experience the beauty of his writing in this extended work.

I saw so much of what I went through in my own life in his book, the emotional roller coaster of fear and self loathing. While our culture of toxic masculinity is deeply ingrained and concentrated in professional sports, it permeates into just about every mainstream interactions we have. I want to thank Ryan for sharing his story, and giving hope to others who are finding themselves somewhere on that same road he walked. Hopefully this serves as a guide to make their lives more fulfilled and less painful. I would hope that people everywhere read this book and think about how their actions and inactions affect the "hidden" people in their lives.

Well written, honest, funny at times and courageous! I loved this book and am so grateful to the author for telling a story which so many of us have lived--successful on the outside yet shamed on the inside. Mr. O'Callaghan did a great job of recounting how even those closest to you can make homophobic comments which children internalize. And through adulthood there are so many "assumptions" that you're straight if you present that way. The book is fast paced and has a "can't put it down" narrative--you don't have to be a football fan to love this book. Wonderful!

Ryan tells his story with truth and rawness. I found myself wanting to help him and every person who has been through the same situation. Fortunately he had people in his corner that helped him from the brink of disaster. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It's a true depiction of a life that could have been lost.

I celebrated and laughed and cried with Ryan all through this book. The best part was that since I know his sister who lives in Texas I already knew it had a happy ending. Thank you Ryan for sharing your story.

If you're going to pick up this book, I recommend adding at least a box of tissues to your order, maybe two. Ryan O'Callaghan's story is both devastating and uplifting, and exposes some of the uglier parts of football. However, it also holds up hope, because it shows the NFL in a more accepting light than the average Joe would assume. O'Callaghan's pain and suffering seep through the pages, and drags the reader along with it until O'Callaghan finally finds the hope and potential joy of life.

This is the story of a big, kind, decent man with few advantages who worked hard and made a name for himself in a field that was not his first choice, American football. I didn’t recognize most of the players’ names, or understand the plays he describes, and those who follow this sport will surely enjoy the book even more than I did.

The “voice” of the writer came through in this book loud and clear. The topic is one that everyone should know about. I think that many people think that identifying as gay is a problem that has been solved; this book makes it clear that it is far from resolved, especially in sports.

I had to pleasure of meeting Ryan in Miami and before he finished telling me about the book I had it in my cart and paid for. It is a great book to see what it would be like to not only be a premier offensive lineman in college and the NFL but to be scared of what people would think if they found out who you truely were. The book is also for a great cause if that influences your decision at all.

Before I read this book, I thought "My life on the line" was exaggerated, but after I read this book, I understand what he experienced.Currently seeing minority on TV or else is normal, but for the people who live in macho environment, I came to know so hard to come out from the closet.On top of that, it read that the environment who grew up influences so much, so long.I now can imagine how hard it is to admit himself who really is, and out to the people around him.I expect current his activities to support people, especially youngers, to take their lives positive.It was nice to encounter this book in my life.