Former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe has accused the team's special teams coordinator, Mike Priefer, of making anti-gay remarks during his time with the NFL team.
The 32-year-old, who publicly spoke of his support for same-sex marriage during his spell with the Vikings, was released by the team last year.
In an article for Deadspin entitled "I was an NFL player until I was fired by two cowards and a bigot", Kluwe said: "I honestly don't know if my activism was the reason I got fired. However, I'm pretty confident it was.
"Throughout the months of September, October, and November [2012], Minnesota Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer would use homophobic language in my presence. He had not done so during minicamps or fall camp that year, nor had he done so during the 2011 season.
"I tried to laugh these off while also responding with the notion that perhaps they were human beings who deserved to be treated as human beings. Mike Priefer also said on multiple occasions that I would wind up burning in hell with the gays, and that the only truth was Jesus Christ and the Bible."
The Vikings have said that they will investigate the allegation regarding homophobic language, but insist that Kluwe was released because of his ability as a punter rather than his personal views.
