Michael Sam

Michael Sam
	Sam holding a souvenir rock from the rock 'M' at Memorial Stadium after a win against Texas A&M
Panthers Wrocław
Position:	Assistant defensive line coach
Personal information
Born:	January 7, 1990 (age 34); Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	261 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school:	Hitchcock (Hitchcock, Texas)
College:	Missouri (2009–2013)
NFL draft:	2014 / round: 7 / pick: 249
Career history
As a player:
	St. Louis Rams (2014); Dallas Cowboys (2014); Montreal Alouettes (2015); Barcelona Dragons (2022);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
	Barcelona Dragons (2022–2024); Assistant defensive line coach; Panthers Wrocław (2024–present); Defensive line coach;
Career highlights and awards
	Second-team All-ELF (2022); Unanimous All-American (2013); SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2013); First-team All-SEC (2013); Arthur Ashe Courage Award (2014);
	Stats at Pro Football Reference
	Stats at CFL.ca (archive)

Michael Alan Sam Jr. (born January 7, 1990) is an American former professional football defensive lineman who is a coach for the Panthers Wrocław in the European League of Football (ELF).^[1] Sam played college football for the Missouri Tigers and was selected by the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL) in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft.^[2] He played one game for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL).^[3]

Sam was a unanimous All-American and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Missouri. After completing his college football career, Sam publicly came out as gay. He became the first publicly gay player to be drafted in the NFL. The Rams released him during the final preseason roster cuts. He also spent time on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad before being waived. He signed with Montreal before the 2015 season,^[4] and became the first publicly gay player to play in a CFL regular-season game.^[5]

^ Young, Ryan (June 1, 2022). "Michael Sam reaches deal to join Barcelona Dragons after working as defensive line coach". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
^ "Sam chosen in 7th round by St. Louis Rams". ESPN.com. May 10, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
^ "Michael Sam 'never' wanted to play for the Montreal Alouettes". cbs news. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
^ Mather, Victor (May 22, 2015). "Michael Sam Signs With Montreal Alouettes of C.F.L." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
^ "Michael Sam is 1st openly gay man to play in CFL regular season game". CBC. Retrieved August 30, 2023.

[1] Young, Ryan (June 1, 2022). "Michael Sam reaches deal to join Barcelona Dragons after working as defensive line coach". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved June 1, 2022.

[2] "Sam chosen in 7th round by St. Louis Rams". ESPN.com. May 10, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2021.

[3] "Michael Sam 'never' wanted to play for the Montreal Alouettes". cbs news. Retrieved November 29, 2021.

[4] Mather, Victor (May 22, 2015). "Michael Sam Signs With Montreal Alouettes of C.F.L." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 16, 2023.

[5] "Michael Sam is 1st openly gay man to play in CFL regular season game". CBC. Retrieved August 30, 2023.

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