Michael Sam will step away from football for personal reasons.

Sam was the first openly gay football player to be drafted by an NFL team. The St. Louis Rams cut Sam before the start of the season and he ended up on the Dallas Cowboys' practice team roster.

This offseason, Sam had signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL.

"The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health," wrote Sam on Twitter. "Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time. I thank the Alouettes for this opportunity and hope to be back on the field soon. Thank you all for your understanding and support."