Michael Sam is still trying to pick up the pieces of his life.
The former SEC defensive player of the year made waves and history after he came out as gay before the 2014 NFL draft and became the first openly gay player selected in the draft when he was picked by the St. Louis Rams. It was magnified timed ten when he was shown kissing his then-fiance upon hearing the news.
In an emotional interview published on Yahoo News, the former NFL player recounts how his life fell apart shortly after his coming out to the world.
After playing for the Rams and being released, he was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys but was released without playing one down for the organization.
Sam says he began to abuse drugs and alcohol, and once he found himself in a one-bedroom apartment in Dallas, he reached out to the LGBT community and other organizations, but nobody seemed to want to help him.
“no one would give me a job,” he said.
“Where was the support that I got for coming out?” Sam added. “I felt like I was used by everyone.”
He was partying, working out and hooked on cocaine. “I felt lost and worthless,” he said.
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Sam has since stopped abusing hard drugs and is currently working to heal his broken relationship with his family.
The 29-year-old reflected on his career, saying, “I wish I was still playing football, but I know if I was in the NFL I wouldn’t have a relationship with my family.”
