WATCH: Michael Sam made history in the U.S. for being the first openly gay football player to be drafted by the NFL. But, he’s now moved north to play with the CFL team. Mike Armstrong reports.
Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL, was officially introduced as the newest member of the Montreal Alouettes at a press conference Tuesday.
Sam signed a 2-year deal with the CFL team after spending 2014 in the NFL with St. Louis Rams and the Dallas Cowboys.
“With the signing of Michael Sam, we have become a better organization today,” said Alouettes’ general manager Jim Popp in a press release. “Not only have we added an outstanding football player, we have added even a better person that brings dignity, character, and heart to our team.”
The Alouettes won the rights to Sam in the 2014 draft but Popp said Tuesday he didn’t know when, or if, Sam would end up north of the border.
Sam became the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL when he was drafted in the seventh round of the 2014 draft by the St. Louis Rams. He was kept on the practice squad before moving to the Dallas Cowboys.
Sam competed in the inaugural veteran combine after the 2015 season but disappointing numbers kept him from landing with an NFL team for the upcoming training camps.
He brushed off comparisons to Jackie Robinson, the first black baseball player who played in Montreal before moving to Major League Baseball in the United States.
“I’m just here to play football. I’m not really trying to do anything historic here in Montreal. I’m just trying to help the team win some games, so we can bring the Grey Cup back home.”
Sam was named the 2013 co-defensive player of the year coming out of college and didn’t seem to give any credit to the suggestion he was overlooked in the NFL because he came out publicly.
“I have no regrets whatsoever. I am happy with what I’ve done over the past year,” he said. “I’ve helped so many people and gave them so much inspiration, so I have no regrets whatsoever.”
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