Michael Sam’s dream of playing in the NFL is on hold at the moment, but it’s far from over.
Just over a year after Sam became the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team, Sam signed a two-year contract Friday with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
Sam’s journey has been an arduous one since the St. Louis Rams selected him in the final round of the 2014 NFL draft. After failing to make the Rams’ roster, the 25-year-old signed with the Dallas Cowboys in September 2014 but was cut in October.
As history has shown, however, the CFL isn’t the worst spot to kick off a pro football career. The list of players who began their careers in Canada before coming to the NFL is quite extensive and even includes a Hall of Famer in its ranks.
So before you write off Sam’s dreams of playing on Sundays, click the link below and see for yourself how several players have used the Great White North as a springboard for success.
Click to see NFL stars who started in the CFL >>
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@TheNFLHistory
