EXCLUSIVE

Who said the NFL was a hotbed for homophobia??? Baltimore Ravens star and equality advocate Brendon Ayanbadejo tells TMZ, several Raiders players were amped Maryland legalized gay marriage last week ... and even gave him props during Sunday's game.

Brendon tells us, "Three Raiders congratulated me on working with and for marriage equality. I remember their names but I will keep that to myself."

He adds, "Ethnicity-wise, it was two white guys and one black guy. Ethnicity plays an important part in this movement."

(FYI -- the Raiders got their asses kicked 55-20)

Brendon -- who's heterosexual -- has been an outspoken gay rights advocate for years (which is pretty rare in the NFL) and now says he's taking the battle for marriage equality back to his native California.