Preloading

Michael Sam on Being Bullied By His Brothers: "They Used to Abuse Me Daily"

Aired on 12/27/2014 | CC
Michael Sam, the first openly gay player to be drafted into the National Football League, grew up in the small town of Hitchcock, Texas, as one of eight children—5 boys and 3 girls. One of his older brothers was killed, and another was declared dead after going missing.

Michael says the two older brothers he had left were known as the "damn Sams" and made his life difficult. "They used to abuse me daily," he says. "Maybe just for fun. Maybe because I was different."

In the seventh grade, Michael received honors in football, basketball and track and got his first trophies ever. "I was so proud of those trophies," he says. "My older[brother], he was so jealous and he just broke them in front of me and it was just the saddest thing. I couldn't have anything without them destroying it or taking it from me."

In the video above, Michael shares whether his brothers have contacted him since he stepped into the spotlight and reveals whether he can ever forgive them.

More about Michael Sam