Michael Sam makes NFL debut for St. Louis Rams vs. New Orleans Saints (Video)
By Jack Crosby
Although it is only the preseason, Friday night was a historical night in the NFL. The St. Louis Rams took the field against the New Orleans Saints, meaning that seventh round draft pick Michael Sam was going to make his debut and become the first openly gay player to play an NFL snap.
Well that moment happened, as Sam was inserted at defensive end late in the first quarter, and you can watch it take place in the video below.
Back in May, there were many wondering whether or not a team would take Sam, the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year out of Missouri. It wasn’t just that fact that he had come out that was holding him back, but he also had a very shaky workout at the Combine in Indianapolis.
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But just when it looked like all hope was lost in the seventh and last round, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher decided that Sam was ultimately someone that he wanted to give a shot to at making his roster, and he went out and did just that. It was a moment shown over and over that still captures peoples’ hearts to this day.
Now, Michael Sam can officially call himself an NFL player, as he has taken his snaps in an NFL game.