Talk about couple goals with a tackle!
Corey O’Brien, the long-time boyfriend of openly bisexual former NFL star Ryan Russell, just reminded the internet why they’re still one of the LGBTQ+ community’s most beloved power couples.
In a viral TikTok moment, Corey revisited an old photo of the two taken early in their relationship – a paparazzi snap that had fans collectively gasping for air and asking for a cold glass of water.
“I don’t know why this photo is going viral again—six years later—but I am in a relationship with the first NFL player to come out as bisexual,” Corey quipped, before cheekily adding, “And no, I still don’t know anything about football other than the fact that he tackles me.”
That last line, folks, sent TikTok into a frenzy, with fans flooding the comments to declare, “You’re sooo REAL FOR THIS,” and “I’m so dead.”
Ryan Russell, 33, first made history in 2019 when he came out in a heartfelt ESPN essay, becoming the first active NFL player to publicly identify as bisexual. Corey, a professional dancer and comedian, has supported him every step of the way, both on and off the field—and sometimes in the shower, judging by that mirror selfie.
“This man is the top headline on @espn this morning for speaking his truth… I couldn’t be more proud,” Corey wrote back then, and he clearly still means it today.
In 2024, Ryan was honored with the prestigious Athlete Ally Action Award, recognizing his tireless work as an LGBTQ+ advocate and trailblazer in professional sports.
It’s rare to see a couple so comfortable, so sexy, and so sincere in their public love—and that’s why fans keep falling for them again and again.
In a world where out athletes are still far too few, seeing a couple like Ryan and Corey thrive together is not just romantic—it’s revolutionary.
Here’s to many more viral tackles, loving posts, and steamy mirror selfies from one of our favorite queer love stories in sports.