Mr. Burke added that laying the groundwork for an openly gay player was not an official part of the program.

“But we’re ready to do whatever that player wants,” he said. “If he wants to do a thousand interviews and march in pride parades, we’re equipped to handle that. And if he wants us to pass block for him so he never has to do another interview in his life, we’re equipped to handle that, too.”

You Can Play will help run seminars for N.H.L. rookies to educate them on gay issues and make resources and personnel available to each team, as desired. The league and the players union will also work with You Can Play to integrate the project into their behavioral health program, enabling players to seek counseling on matters of sexual orientation confidentially. Mr. Burke said the joint venture would also step forward when players make homophobic remarks.

In the N.F.L., the league’s security department would monitor public reaction, looking for potential threats from fans in the event a player comes out. Troy Vincent, a former player who is now the league’s executive charged with player engagement, and Anna Isaacson, the league’s community relations director, have been designated to cull ideas from gay advocacy groups and to build relationships with the groups that the N.F.L. might then use to help them address players.

The ideas raised by advocacy groups are myriad: could the N.F.L. order stadiums to stop jokingly training their “kiss cams” on two men, for instance? Much of the conversation has centered on the league’s rookie symposium, a convention for incoming players, and the training of what the N.F.L. calls ambassadors, former players who can deliver messages the league believes are important.

“We are in active discussions with L.G.B.T. partners,” said Robert Gulliver, the league’s top human resources executive. “We do want to sensitize incoming rookies as to how important it is to pay attention to L.G.B.T. issues, so people have an appreciation for some of the sensitive L.G.B.T. issues that are very topical right now in the league.”

During a recent meeting with league officials and three organizations — Athlete Ally, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and You Can Play — Wade Davis, a former N.F.L. player who has come out and is now on You Can Play’s advisory board, suggested closed-door meetings with players at which they could freely ask questions about having a gay teammate.