Michael Sam Taking Break from Football

Photo by Richard Phibbs for Out

In a three-part tweet yesterday, Michael Sam announced that he will be taking a break from playing for the Montreal Allouettes out of concern for his mental health:

Sam signed a two-year deal with the Alouettes this summer, but he left the training camp June 12 for personal reasons and sat out the first five games of the season. During his first game of the season Aug. 7, he took to the field at the end of the first quarter but did not record one tackle or sack.

Sam made history when he became the first openly gay player to be drafted to the NFL during the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft. After being cut from the Saint Louis Rams and the Dallas Cowboys, he was drafted to the CFL.