--- title: Michael Sam Jersey is Number Two in NFL Rookie Sales description: Michael Sam jerseys have been selling fast ever since he became the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team canonical: https://time.com/96172/michael-sam-jersey-nfl/ author: Alexandra Sifferlin article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-05-12T15:57:22.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-21T07:47:07.607Z article:section: World og:title: Michael Sam Jersey is Number Two in NFL Rookie Sales og:description: Michael Sam jerseys have been selling fast ever since he became the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team og:url: https://time.com/96172/michael-sam-jersey-nfl/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfae9c7baad1cb361/69868ef055a859cdcaa80ca9/michael-sam1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: NFL: Combine og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Michael Sam Jersey is Number Two in NFL Rookie Sales twitter:description: Michael Sam jerseys have been selling fast ever since he became the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfae9c7baad1cb361/69868ef055a859cdcaa80ca9/michael-sam1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Michael Sam Jerseys Are No. 2 in NFL Rookie Sales ## Video: Michael Sam Becomes First Openly Gay Player Drafted By NFL [Watch (HLS stream): Michael Sam Becomes First Openly Gay Player Drafted By NFL](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/pIOGLqvP.m3u8) (2:21)  _Published 2014-05-11. It took seven rounds and 248 picks, but the NFL made history Saturday, drafting the first openly gay player in the league’s history, Michael Sam._ by [Alexandra Sifferlin](/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin May 12, 2014 3:57 PM CUT  Missouri Tigers defensive end Michael Sam speaks to the media in a press conference during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb 22, 2014. Missouri Tigers defensive end Michael Sam speaks to the media in a press conference during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb 22, 2014.USA Today Sports / Reuters by [Alexandra Sifferlin](/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin May 12, 2014 3:57 PM CUT Michael Sam’s St. Louis Rams jersey is the second-best selling NFL rookie jersey so far, the league said Monday. Sam became the first openly gay football player to be drafted by the NFL on Saturday, when the Rams picked him in the seventh round of the draft. Sam [kissed his boyfriend](http://time.com/95342/michael-sam/ "undefined"), and President Barack Obama congratulated Sam in a [statement](http://time.com/95283/michael-sam-rams-draft/ "undefined"). NFL spokeswoman Joanna Hunter confirmed that between Thursday and Sunday, Sam’s jersey was the second-highest selling rookie jersey. Here’s the list of the top five selling rookie jerseys: 1\. Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns 2\. Michael Sam, St. Louis Rams 3\. Jadeveon Clowney, Houston Texans 4\. Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings 5\. 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