Michael Sam: Gay NFL players told me they wish they had the courage to come out

When Michael Sam was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of May's draft, it marked a monumental moment for the NFL.

Sam, the 2013 SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, was the first openly gay player in history to be drafted to the NFL. More importantly, though, it gave strength to players who have yet to find the courage to come out publicly. 

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey set to air Saturday night on OWN, Sam said after the draft he received calls from a number of gay NFL players thanking him.

"A very few reached out to me and pretty much just told me their gratitude and how thankful they were that I had the courage (to come out)," Sam told Winfrey, according to the Washington Post. "They wished that they had the courage to come out."

Sam was released by the Rams during final roster cuts. He later signed with the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad, but was cut Oct. 22 and remains unsigned.

"Gay men in the NFL reached out to me and showed their respect and admired my courage," Sam told Winfrey. "There's a lot of us out there. I'm not the only one. I'm just the only one who's open."