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Michael Sam is a former NFL player who has transitioned into a coaching role and motivational speaking, sharing insights from his career as a professional athlete and his personal journey.
Nike, the world's largest athletic shoe and apparel producer, was anticipated to be an automatic partner due to its official NFL deal at the time of Sam's emergence, highlighting his marketing potential.
Visa partnered with Michael Sam as part of their 'everywhere you want to be' rebranding initiative. He starred in a commercial emphasizing judgment based on actions rather than identity, becoming his first endorsement deal.
OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) partnered with Emmy-winning producer Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Studios and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Amy Rice to tell Michael Sam's history-making journey through a documentary.
Michael Sam Jr. was born on January 7, 1990, in Galveston, Texas. He attended Hitchcock High School, where he excelled in football as a defensive end and offensive tackle, earning first-team All-District honors all four years. Despite his talent, he experienced a challenging childhood, living at times in his mother’s car and navigating family hardships. Sam pursued his college football career at the University of Missouri from 2009 to 2013, where he redshirted his first year. By his senior year in 2013, he achieved significant recognition, leading the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss. He was named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American, marking him as a top prospect in college football.
Following his distinguished college career, Sam publicly came out as gay in February 2014, becoming the first openly gay player to be drafted in the NFL. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft. Although he showed promise during the preseason, recording 11 tackles and 3 sacks, he was released during the final roster cuts. He subsequently joined the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad in September 2014 but was waived in October. In 2015, Sam signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he became the first publicly gay player to play in a CFL regular-season game. He later stepped away from professional football in August 2015, citing mental health reasons, and spent seven years sharing his experiences as an author and motivational speaker.
In 2022, Sam returned to professional football in a coaching capacity, joining the Barcelona Dragons of the European League of Football (ELF) as an assistant defensive line coach and later as a player. He continued his coaching career with the Panthers Wrocław in the ELF in 2024. Throughout his career, Sam has been recognized for his courage and impact off the field, receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2014 and being named one of GQ’s Men of the Year. His journey highlights both his athletic achievements and his role as a public figure in advocating for inclusivity.
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