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Seven years before Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as gay on Monday, an all-American from the University of Missouri risked a promising career with a public declaration. “I am an openly proud gay man,” Michael Sam, a 24-year-old defensive end, told ESPN and the New York Times in February 2014.
The announcement followed a surprising 12-2 season for Missouri, which won the SEC East and then the Cotton Bowl as Sam was named the SEC defensive player of the year. He was expected to fare well in the May NFL draft — but that all changed after his announcement.