Michael Sam will return to the gridiron for his first coaching job.
The former Missouri pass-rushing standout, who became the NFL’s first openly gay player when drafted by the Rams in 2014, is going overseas to the European Football League.
As relayed by Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Barcelona Dragons hired Sam as a defensive line coach.
“I hope to contribute however I can to help the defensive line to be the pass rushers in the European league,” Sam said, per the team’s official statement.
Michael Sam named D-line coach for Barcelona Dragons https://t.co/2qKN0ktmFH
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) April 10, 2022
Sam earned All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors by stockpiling 18 sacks in his senior season with the Tigers. Following the sensational campaign, he publicly came out as gay.
He played in the 2014 preseason for the Rams, but they cut the seventh-round selection before the season began. Sam briefly joined the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad before signing with the FL’s Montreal Alouettes,
In 2015, Sam retired from football to prioritize his mental health.
Seven years later, the 32-year-old will head to Spain to teach his techniques to Barcelona’s defensive linemen. It’s an interesting opportunity for Sam, who has made an indelible mark on the NFL without playing a regular-season down.