Michael Sam stepping away from football, citing mental health

Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team, is stepping away from football amid mental health concerns, he announced Friday on Twitter.

Sam made his CFL debut with the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 7, becoming the first openly gay player to appear in a Canadian Football League game.

RELATED: Report: Sam has received 'special treatment' while with Alouettes​

"The last 12 months have been very difficult for me, to the point where I became concerned with my mental health," Sam tweeted. "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."

Sam won SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2013 at Missouri, and was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. Sam, 25, was released before the start of the regular season.

He joined the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad in September 2014 and was waived a month later.