National Football League

Twitterverse reacts to Michael Sam being selected by the Rams

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:46 p.m. ET

foxsports

The St. Louis Rams and Michael Sam made history Saturday.

Sam came out as gay earlier this year. His team and coaches knew his secret and kept it for his final college season. He went on to have the best year of his career: He was the co-defensive player of the year in the nation's best college football conference and had 11.5 sacks.

The pick came after several rounds of suspense. The first round of the day, No. 4 overall, came and went, no Sam. Then the fifth and sixth, and finally, the day was down to just a handful of picks.

When Mike Kensil, the NFL's vice president of game operations, walked to the podium at Radio City Music Hall in the draft's final minutes to announce the Rams' second-to-last pick, the crowd got a sense something was up. Very few of the last day picks were announced at the podium. Twitter lit up with suggestions the Rams were about to make news.

When Kensil said: "The St. Louis Rams select ... Michael Sam..." the fans gave a hearty cheer, chanting "Yes! Yes! Yes!" and "Michael Sam!"

Here's a sampling of how the Twitterverse reacted:

Congratulations to Michael Sam!!! I'll be at your first game my brother. :-)))))). Today is a good day!!!!... http://t.co/Ta3JL5FB9i
— Esera Tuaolo (@eseratuaolo) May 11, 2014

Congrats to @MikeSamFootball and to every player drafted this year! To those who weren't drafted...Your dream is still within reach!
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 10, 2014

Congrats to @MikeSamFootball and @STLouisRams. #RealHappiness #SECdefensivePlayerOfYear pic.twitter.com/mbs7DI9Fe8
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) May 10, 2014

I'm getting ready for my game against the @MiamiHEAT, but I wanted to say congrats to @MikeSamFootball & @STLouisRams. Great pick. Good luck
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins34) May 10, 2014

Congrats @MikeSamFootball on being drafted to the St. Louis Rams!!! Good luck brotha! #StandWithSam
— Donte' Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) May 10, 2014

Very happy for @MikeSamFootball . You only experience getting drafted once. Congrats!
— Blair Walsh (@BlairWalsh3) May 10, 2014

Best of luck to @MikeSamFootball moving forward. All you have to do is be yourself. Enjoy the league! #istandwithsam
— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 10, 2014

Welcome to #STL @MikeSamFootball !! Teammates again.
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) May 10, 2014

Congrats to #MichaelSam and my #StLouisRams on making history today!! 1st openly gay player drafted in… http://t.co/H6to4pXJxv
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) May 11, 2014

So proud of the @STLouisRams for showing there's nothing to be afraid of. Congratulations, @MikeSamFootball
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) May 11, 2014

@metheridge: @MikeSamFootball @STLouisRams history is made! I am so happy to be an @nfl fan.
— Melissa Etheridge (@metheridge) May 11, 2014

Stand proudly with #MichaelSam / the #LGBT comm. against bigotry - look forward to day where being gay athelete isn't news. @MikeSamFootball
— Montel Williams (@Montel_Williams) May 11, 2014

NFL Draft is mostly uninteresting to me, but I am encouraged to hear @MikeSamFootball got drafted. Great moment in US sports history. -SG
— steve gleason (@TeamGleason) May 10, 2014

Congrats to @MikeSamFootball on being drafted in the 7th Round by the St. Louis Rams!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 11, 2014

That was a moment America will never forget @MikeSamFootball Uncomfortable for some but changing. #bestofluck brother
— Phil Lutzenkirchen (@lutzenkirchen) May 10, 2014

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.