Sam decides to step away from football

This is the biggest blow yet to his pro football career.

ESPN reported that Sam agreed to a two-year deal with the Alouettes this summer.

Sam introduced by way of Twitter Friday night that he was stepping away from the sport, as a troublesome 12 months has led him to be involved for his mental health, he stated.

In his statement, he said he hopes to be back on the field soon.

Sam concluded by expressing his gratitude to all of his followers for their “understanding and support”.

Michael Sam, the first openly gay professional football player has announced he is leaving his current Canadian Football League team the Montreal Alouettes for mental health reasons. In June, though, Sam took a hiatus from the Alouettes for “personal reasons”. In July he allegedly struggled to get into football shape, and reports claimed dissension on the team due to “preferential treatment” of the openly gay player.

Sam was out of the Alouettes lineup on Thursday with a sore back.

The 25-year-old was cut by the Rams after the preseason in 2014 but was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, where he spent one month before being cut.

He made his debut last week in the Alouettes’ seventh game of the season, a 26-23 loss to Ottawa.

Sam made national headlines when he told his teammates, during an ESPN interview in 2014 that he was gay.