Out NFL player Michael Sam: My career could have gone better if I’d never come out

The first openly gay NFL player, Michael Sam, has admitted his career might have gone better if he had stayed in the closet.

Sam became the first openly gay player in NFL history when he came out as gay last year – and has since had brief spells with the NFL’s St Louis Rams, the Dallas Cowboys, and Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes.

However, he crashed out of the sport last month citing mental health issues, and has since re-enrolled in school.

Sam has now made a sad admission – that things might have gone better if he had just stayed in the closet.

He told NBCSN talk show host Dan Patrick: “I wanted to come out after I made an NFL roster, it really wasn’t supposed to be public. It was just supposed to be to the team, as I did at the University of Missouri.

He added that he came out publicly partly because reporters were already aware of his sexuality, from his time at university, and that he feared it may be leaked.

The player added: “I wanted to be the one to tell my own story. I didn’t want someone to tell it for me.”

The defensive player previously indicated he would step away from sport for now, though he plans to return in the future.

He tweeted: “So I got admitted to University Of Missouri Grad program this week.”

“I enrolled in Grad school this Fall to further my education, while I train to get back to football!!!”

Speaking about his reasons for quitting previously, he said: “The last 12 months have become very difficult for me to the point where I became concerned for my mental health.

“Because of this, I am going to step away from the game at this time. I thank the Alouettes for this opportunity and hope to be back on the field soon.

“Thank you all for your understanding and support.”

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Michael Sam: If I Hadn’t Come Out as Gay, I Probably ‘Would be on a Roster’ in the NFL

Michael Sam, who became the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL franchise, said he probably would have been on a team’s roster had he not come out.

Michael Sam before the inaugural NFL Veteran Combine in February 2015. (Image source: Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

Sam made the observation during sportscaster Dan Patrick’s radio show Friday.

He told Patrick he announced he was gay “a little too early for my taste” in early 2014 but “certain things happened” that influenced him to come out — notably reporters who knew he was gay and might break the story.

“I wanted to be the one to tell my own story,” Sam told Patrick. “I didn’t want someone telling it for me.”

Patrick then asked the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year if he hadn’t come out, would he be on an NFL roster right now.

“It probably would have been better for me if I didn’t come out … I would be on a roster,” Sam said, who added that he wanted to come out after making a squad.

Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams but was cut during training camp. He then went to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad but was released. Sam played in the Canadian Football League for a short while before he headed back to the University of Missouri where he’s pursuing a master’s degree.

Despite his NFL setbacks, Sam told Patrick he still wants to play in the league and believes he’s a still a “damn good” football player.

Michael Sam still hoping for NFL career

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Michael Sam is back in Missouri, working on a master’s degree and still hopeful for a career in the NFL.

Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by the league, told a Columbia, Missouri, TV station this week that his life has been a “roller coaster” since the St. Louis Rams picked him in the seventh round last year.

The 2014 Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year from Missouri was cut by the Rams and spent part of last season on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad before being released.

Sam, 25, signed a two-year deal with the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes this summer, but quit in August after playing just one game. He said on Twitter at the time that the past year had been so difficult he was worried about his mental health.

WATCH BELOW: Michael Sam stepping away from football after making history playing for the Montreal Alouettes

For now, he’s content to work on a master’s degree at Missouri,trying to see if a career in broadcasting suits him.Sam appeared relaxed in an interview on KMIZ-TV. He said he wants to return to the NFL in 2016.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” Sam said.

“I’ve been trying to figure out what’s next in my life. I’ve just come to a conclusion, as I take this break from football, I want to focus on my media training.”

All of the media attention after Sam came out in February 2014 was overwhelming, he said, but eventually he got used to it. It also whetted his appetite for a career in media. Still, he felt a need to scale down and step back.

In addition to dropping out of the Canadian league, Sam parted ways with his agent and publicist.

Taking a break from football “was one of the smartest things I’ve done in a long time,” he said. “I’m really just focusing on me right now.”

Michael Sam 'never' wanted to play for the Montreal Alouettes

Defensive player who left Alouettes after 1 game says he is considering a career in media

Michael Sam is back in Missouri, working on a master's degree and still hopeful for a career in the NFL after abruptly leaving the Montreal Alouettes.

Sam, the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL, told a Columbia, Mo., TV station this week that his life has been a "roller coaster" since the St. Louis Rams picked him in the seventh round last year.

• Michael Sam, NFL's 1st openly gay draftee, signs with CFL's Montreal Alouettes
• ​Alouettes' Michael Sam leaves team for mental health reasons

The 2014 Southeastern Conference defensive college player of the year from Missouri was cut by the Rams and spent part of last season on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad before being released.

Sam, 25, signed a two-year deal with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes this summer, but quit in August after playing just one game. He said on Twitter at the time that the past year had been so difficult he was worried about his mental health.

'I never really wanted to go to the CFL, but I did and I committed to going.'- Michael Sam

Sam admitted to never really wanting to play in the CFL on the Dan Patrick Show on Friday.

"It was a really last call to go to the CFL. I never really wanted to go to the CFL, but I did and I committed to going," Sam told Patrick.

"But you know, I left [the Alouettes] with some personal issues the first time and the second time I came back I really hadn't gotten over those issues," he said, referring also to an earlier leave of absence from the team in June.

Sam said he wants to return to the NFL in 2016.

For now, he's content to work on a master's degree at Missouri, trying to see if a career in broadcasting suits him.

"It's been a roller coaster," Sam said. "I've been trying to figure out what's next in my life. I've just come to a conclusion, as I take this break from football, I want to focus on my media training."

All of the media attention after Sam came out in February 2014 was overwhelming, he said, but eventually he got used to it. It also whetted his appetite for a career in media.

Still, he felt a need to scale down and step back. In addition to dropping out of the Canadian league, Sam has since parted ways with his agent and publicist.