Michael Sam made football history Saturday when he became the first openly gay player to be drafted into the NFL.

Sam was the 249^th overall pick of the NFL draft and seeks to be the first overtly gay player to ever play in the league.

The news came at around 6:50 p.m. on Saturday and Sam was seen on video as he took the call from the Rams and coach Jeff Fisher while surrounded by family, friends, and with his boyfriend by his side.

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It was an emotional moment for Sam who broke down in tears when he received the news. He then celebrated by giving his significant other a kiss. 

In February, Sam had announced he was gay causing a lot of focus to shift from his skills as a football player to his sexuality. However, in recent months fans and experts have once again honed in on his skills as a player.

The 6-foot-1, 261-pound player earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2013 after posting 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.

But even with an already stellar sports career to back him up, there was still some speculation that Sam might not be drafted at all.

Coach Fisher and the Rams' players emphasized that the focus should remain on Sam's talent and performance as a professional athlete and not on his stance as the first openly gay player.  

This won't be the first time NFL football team, the Rams, make history.  In 1946, the team signed the first African-American to play in the sports league, a legacy which Sam says he is proud to carry forward.

President Obama also took the time to issue a statement congratulating the athlete for his accomplishments not only as an African-American, but also as a strong member of the LGBT community.

TagsMichael Sam, NFL, Rams, Football, Sports