Michael Sam: Five years later

On the first day of Missouri’s training camp, players went through a team-building exercise to break the ice. Each member was asked to share a little about themselves, like what made them enroll in the university and what most don’t know about them. When it was Michael Sam’s turn, he took a moment to collect himself and said to his team, “I’m gay.”

The Cotton Bowl win was the culmination of Sam’s impressive college career. He forced a fumble, which led to a touchdown in the closing minutes of the championship. As a senior, he recorded 11.5 QB sacks and 19 tackles for a loss. Sam led the SEC in both categories, tying the Mizzou record and earning him multiple honors, including first-team All-SEC and first-team All-American.

In the 7th round of the NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams selected Sam. This was a historic moment for the league as Sam was the first openly gay athlete to play for the NFL. The emotional moment Sam received the official call was televised and it was apparent the decision was, above all else, purely about the sport. President Obama would go on to celebrate the occasion stating, “From the playing field to the corporate boardroom, LGBT Americans prove every day that you should be judged by what you do and not who you are.”

Sam would make his NFL debut in the first preseason game against the New Orleans. He recorded one sack on QB Ryan Griffin and would repeat it in the next two games. Overall, Sam made 11 tackles and 3 sacks in his exhibition debut.

Although coach Jeff Fisher believed in Sam’s ability to play, the Rams opted to release him. They retained Ethan Westbrooks, due to his versatility on the field. Both Westbrooks and Sam shared similar stats, but there might have been more to the cut than numbers indicated. Rams DE Chris Long was the only teammate who was vocal in support when it came to a tone deaf segment on SportsCenter. In an interview with Out Magazine, Sam said things might have been different had he had more outward support from the rest of the team.

Sam was added to the Dallas Cowboys’ practice lineup within a week of his release from the Rams. Unfortunately, by the end of October, Sam would be cut yet again to allow the Cowboys to retain Troy Davis.

Seemingly being pushed out of the NFL, Sam had a new opportunity to continue his football career in Canada. The Montreal Alouettes offered him a 2-year deal. Sam signed the contract and became the first openly gay athelete of the Candadian league.

Sam announced his retirement via Twitter on August 14, 2015. He cited mental health as the main factor in his decision.

Although Sam’s professional career was short lived, he did blaze a trail for future generations. The pressures to appeal to both NFL and LGBT communities might have been inflated at the time, but Sam’s legacy will be a lasting testament for equality and tolerance. Since his retirement, Sam has toured college campuses across the nation as a motivational speaker. He is also currently working on establishing a foundation and authoring a book.