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# NFL Hopeful Michael Sam Comes Out Ahead Of Draft

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/eGZqGaPN.m3u8" -->
## Video: NFL Hopeful Michael Sam Comes Out Ahead Of Draft

[Watch (HLS stream): NFL Hopeful Michael Sam Comes Out Ahead Of Draft](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/eGZqGaPN.m3u8) (1:33)

![NFL Hopeful Michael Sam Comes Out Ahead Of Draft](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/eGZqGaPN/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2014-02-10. In interviews with ESPN and The New York Times, Sam called himself a proud gay man. If drafted, he could become the first openly gay NFL player._


---

Jul 27, 2023 4:12 PM UTC

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### NFL Draft: What Falling In The Draft Day Means For A Player MONEY

[Michael Sam Becomes First Openly Gay Player Drafted By NFL](/video/pIOGLqvP/)

### Michael Sam Becomes First Openly Gay Player Drafted By NFL

[Michael Sam: ](/video/5jjCf9BT/)

### Michael Sam:

---


## Transcript

>> Is the NFL ready for its first openly gay player? We may find out soon because former Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Michael Sam announced that he's gay Sunday and he's wildly expected to be drafted in May. Sam broke the news to ESPN and the New York Times describing the feeling of coming out to his teammates last August.

>> Saying it, it was-- how everyone's reaction was, was so, like, awesome and I just-- these are my teammates, these are my brothers.

>> Sam said, " Most of the team already knew, but it was good to just get it out there ." As for Sunday's announcement, he said rumors had started to circulate about his sexuality so he wanted to take control of the story now. While former pro athletes have come out after retiring, as was the case when NBA center Jason Collins came out to Sports Illustrated, there still has never been an openly gay man in the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL. So, any team that drafts Sam knows they're getting a historic first. Is the NFL ready for it? ESPN analyst Jerome Bettis thinks so.

>> I believe the majority of the players in the locker room are. You al-- you're always going to have one or two guys that feel strongly in a different capacity.

>> But Sports Illustrated spoke to anonymous NFL insiders who all said the same thing. " In blunt terms, they project a significant drop in Sam's draft stock, a publicity circus and an NFL locker room culture not prepared to deal with an openly gay player ." Publicly, at least, the NFL supported Sam's decision, tweeting, " Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014 ."

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