Months before the National Football League draft in May, Missouri defensive end and Associated Press Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year Michael Sam announced that he is gay.
Assuming he gets drafted, he will be the first openly gay player in NFL history. While the NFL has had gay players in the past, all of them have come out after their careers as players were finished.
The announcement was not a surprise to his teammates at the University of Missouri because he informed them about his sexuality in August. Sam dated another athlete at Missouri who was not on the football team. Missouri went on to compete for the SEC Championship, in which they lost to Auburn University. He led the SEC with 11 and a half sacks on the season. Sam is projected to be drafted around the third or fourth round.
Despite garnering awards and accolades, some may wonder why Sam could be a mid-round draft choice. He is undersized at 6’2 and 250 pounds for the defensive end position at the NFL level. He is currently ranked as the 12th best outside pass rusher by Entertainment and Sports Programming Network Scouts Inc. Only time will tell whether or not his stock falls or rises.
Sam does not appear too worried or concerned about public perception, as he said, “I am an openly proud gay man.”
Whether or not his decision will cause controversy, it would not be the first time he has had to overcome adversity in his life. Sam had an older brother who was shot to death. He never had the chance to meet his older sister who died when she was a baby. His second oldest brother went missing in 1998. Two of his brothers are currently in jail.
Sam said, “Telling the world I am gay is nothing compared to that.”
Since his announcement Sunday night, there has been a mixed reaction around the league.
Seahawks linebacker and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Malcolm Smith tweeted, “There is no room for bigotry in American Sports. It takes courage to change the culture.”
Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders also tweeted after the announcement, “I applaud Missouri DE @MichaelSamfootball for his bravery & honesty about who he is. I pray he gets an opportunity 2 play the game he loves.”
NFL Senior Vice President of Public Relations Greg Aiello released a statement, “We admire Michael Sam’s honesty and courage. Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed. We look forward to welcoming Michael Sam in 2014.”
While garnering support from the NFL, players and former players, there have also been several people who disagree with Sam’s decision. Sports Illustrated featured an article where they talked to several people who remained anonymous talking about Sam’s sexuality.
An NFL Player Personnel Assistant was quoted saying, “I don’t think football is ready for [an openly gay player] just yet. In the coming decade or two, it’s going to be acceptable, but at this point in time it’s still a ‘man’s-man’ game. To call somebody a [gay slur] is still so commonplace. It’d chemically imbalance an NFL locker room and meeting room.”
Patrick Crayton, a former NFL receiver who has not played since 2011, tweeted in regards to Michael Sam, “Oh wow!!! There goes the NFL!”
The NFL has a strict no-discrimination policy regarding sexual orientation. Much like most businesses, the policy is in place to embrace different cultures and provide equal employment opportunities.
Last year, when National Basketball Association player Jason Collins announced he was gay, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about how the NFL would deal with a gay athlete.
Goodell said, “It will not just be tolerated, but it will be accepted.”
This is not the first time Goodell has had to deal with the issue. His brother, Michael Goodell, is openly gay. Michael has publicly said that Roger is his hero because he used to protect him growing up. Michael was quoted saying Roger used to “beat the crap out of people” who would make fun of Michael’s sexual orientation.
Ready or not, the first openly gay NFL player is coming.