Jason Collins, who made history in 2013 as the first active athlete in one of North America’s four major professional sports leagues to come out as gay, passed away at age 47 from glioblastoma, his family confirmed Tuesday. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2025 and revealed in December that he was battling Stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” his family said in a statement released by the NBA. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him
