Michael Sam facts for kids
Sam holding a souvenir rock from the rock 'M' at Memorial Stadium after a win against Texas A&M
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| Panthers Wrocław | |
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| Position: | Assistant defensive line coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | January 7, 1990 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 | |
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| As coach: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Player stats at PFR | |
| Player stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |
Michael Alan Sam Jr. (born January 7, 1990) is an American former professional football player. He was a defensive lineman and now coaches for the Panthers Wrocław in the European League of Football (ELF). Sam played college football for the Missouri Tigers. He was chosen by the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL draft. He also played one game for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Sam was a unanimous All-American and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Defensive Player of the Year in college. After his college career, he shared that he is gay. This made him the first openly gay player to be drafted into the National Football League (NFL). The Rams released him before the regular season began. He also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. Later, he joined the Montreal Alouettes and became the first openly gay player to play in a CFL regular-season game.
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Michael Sam's Early Life
Sam grew up in Hitchcock, Texas, and went to Hitchcock High School. He started helping the school's football team as a water boy when he was in eighth grade. Later, he joined the team as a player. He played both defensive end and offensive tackle.
High School Football Achievements
Sam was recognized for his strong play in high school. He earned first-team All-District honors as a defensive lineman for all four years. He also received honors as an offensive lineman in his junior and senior years. One notable game was against Chávez High School. Sam played very well against Michael Brockers, who was a highly-rated player.
Choosing a College Team
After high school, experts considered Sam a two-star recruit for college football. He received scholarship offers from several universities. These included Arizona State University, Colorado State University, and the University of Houston. Sam had hoped to play for Texas A&M University.
College Football Career
Sam accepted a scholarship to the University of Missouri (Mizzou). He was recruited by Craig Kuligowski, the team's defensive line coach. Kuligowski knew Sam from recruiting other players in the Hitchcock area. Sam attended Mizzou from 2009 to 2013. He played for the Tigers in the Big 12 Conference.
First Years at Missouri
In his first year, Sam did not play in games, which is called a redshirt year. As a freshman, he recorded 3.5 quarterback sacks and 24 tackles. He also had two forced fumbles and one interception. In his second year, Sam intercepted a pass that helped Mizzou win a game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. This win made the team eligible for a bowl game. In 2012, Mizzou moved to the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Sam had 3.5 sacks while starting in nine games.
Senior Year Success
In 2013, his senior year, Sam had an amazing season. He recorded 11.5 quarterback sacks and 19 tackles for a loss. He led the SEC in both these categories. He also tied Missouri's record for most sacks in a single season. Sam was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice in a row. This was after he had three sacks in games against the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Vanderbilt Commodores.
After the season, Sam was named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He shared this honor with C. J. Mosley from the University of Alabama. He was also chosen for the first-team All-SEC selection.
National Recognition
Sam received national honors for his performance. He was named a first-team All-American by several groups. These included the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Associated Press. He was also a semifinalist for major awards like the Chuck Bednarik Award. Missouri played in the 2014 Cotton Bowl Classic. In that game, Sam forced a fumble that led to a touchdown, helping Missouri win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
During his college career, Sam had 123 tackles, 21 sacks, and six forced fumbles. He graduated from Missouri in December 2013. He also played in the 2014 Senior Bowl in January 2014.
Professional Football Journey
Before the 2014 NFL draft, experts thought Sam might be picked in the third or fourth round. However, his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine in February 2014 was not as strong as expected. This lowered predictions for where he would be drafted. Some thought he was too small for a defensive end and too slow for an outside linebacker.
Joining the St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams drafted Michael Sam in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft. He was the 249th player chosen out of 256. This made him the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL. President Barack Obama congratulated Sam, the Rams, and the NFL. He said it was an important step forward for the nation.
Sam's Rams jerseys quickly became very popular. They were the second best-selling rookie jerseys on the NFL's website. His jersey sales ranked sixth among all NFL players during a period from April to July.
Preseason Games and Release
Sam played his first professional game on August 8, 2014. It was a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. He made one tackle in that game. In his second preseason game, he recorded his first professional sack against the Green Bay Packers. He also sacked Johnny Manziel in a game against the Cleveland Browns.
In four preseason games, Sam had 11 tackles and 3 sacks. Rams coach Jeff Fisher believed Sam could play in the league. However, on August 30, the Rams released Sam. This was part of the final cuts to get the roster down to 53 players. The Rams kept nine defensive linemen. They chose to keep an undrafted rookie named Ethan Westbrooks over Sam. Westbrooks could play all four defensive line positions, while Sam mostly played left defensive end.
Time with the Dallas Cowboys
On September 3, 2014, the Dallas Cowboys added Sam to their practice squad. A practice squad allows players to train with the team. On October 21, the Cowboys released Sam to make room for another player.
Playing in the CFL
On May 22, 2015, Sam signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. This made him the first openly gay player in the Canadian league's history. He left camp briefly for personal reasons but returned.
Sam made his CFL debut on August 7, 2015, against the Ottawa Redblacks. He became the first openly gay player to play in a CFL regular season game. He did not record a tackle in that game. Sam later left the team, saying he needed to focus on his mental well-being. He described the previous year as "difficult."
Taking a Break from Football
On August 14, 2015, Sam announced on Twitter that he was stepping away from professional football. He said it was for mental health reasons. He did not play football for seven years after that. During this time, he shared his experiences as an author and speaker.
Coaching Career
Barcelona Dragons
On April 10, 2022, Michael Sam was hired as the assistant defensive line coach for the Barcelona Dragons. This team plays in the European League of Football. On June 1, the team announced that Sam had also signed as a player. He started as a defensive lineman in the team's first game on June 5.
Panthers Wrocław
On February 25, 2024, it was announced that Sam had been hired as the assistant defensive line coach for the Panthers Wrocław. This team is also part of the European League of Football.
Personal Life and Public Impact
Michael Sam is one of eight children. He was the first person in his family to attend college. In August 2013, Sam told his Missouri teammates that he is gay. They were very supportive of him.
In February 2014, Sam spoke publicly about his experience. This made him one of the first openly gay college football players. Some people in the NFL worried this might affect his draft position. However, many others, including the National Football League Players Association, supported him. They said players should be judged on their skills, not their identity.
After being drafted by the Rams, Sam's emotional reaction was shown live on TV. This moment was seen as a significant step for inclusion in sports. When Sam returned to Missouri after the Cotton Bowl, some people protested his appearance. However, thousands of students organized a counter-protest. They formed a "human wall" to show their support for Sam.
In April 2016, Sam spoke with groups that support LGBTQ+ rights. He also talked to state lawmakers in Missouri about important issues.
Dancing with the Stars
On February 24, 2015, Sam was announced as a contestant on the 20th season of Dancing with the Stars. He danced with professional partner Peta Murgatroyd. They were eliminated in the fourth week of the competition. They finished in tenth place.
Honors and Awards
Sam has received several honors for his courage and achievements. He won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2014 ESPY Awards. He was also named one of GQ's Men of the Year. Additionally, he was a finalist for Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year.
Images for kids
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Protesters outside a Missouri Tigers basketball game.
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Students formed a "human wall" to support Sam.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Sam para niños
