Ex-Patriot Ryan O'Callaghan recalls how Robert Kraft supported him after coming out

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Former New England Patriots lineman Ryan O'Callaghan made the brave decision to come out as gay two years ago, and Pats owner Robert Kraft was there to support him every step of the way.

O'Callaghan, who was in the Patriots organization from 2006-08, wrote in his upcoming book "My Life on the Line: How the NFL Damn Near Killed Me, and Ended up Saving My Life" that Kraft expressed how proud he was of him and stated he'd be "forever a Patriot."

The conversation took place during a reception in the summer of 2017.

“Spending a few minutes privately with Mr. Kraft in his office is surreal,” O’Callaghan wrote in his book, per USA TODAY Sports. “It’s just him and me, with a couple hundred people outside his office door. … I never got that treatment when I was on his payroll. For (Kraft), who opens up to me about a gay friend, I am the most important person in the world in those few moments. Given where I have been in the previous dozen years, he is equally the most important person in the world for me right then and there.”

The 36-year-old also mentions former Patriots Kevin Faulk, Andre Tippett, Dan Koppen, and Deion Branch making him "feel part of the franchise's forever family."

O'Callaghan's book will be released in September.

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