Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL, has signed onto the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas head coach Jason Garrett confirmed the news at a Cowboys press conference this morning.

"Michael Sam continues to change the game," said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. "He is a trailblazer and an inspiration, but, above all else, he is a great football player."

Ellis continued, "That an accomplished player like Sam, who performed strongly in the preseason, was not picked up sooner is a testament to both how far we have left to go as a culture and how far the NFL has to go as an organization."

"I'm excited to be to be joining Dallas," Sam told the Dallas Morning-News. "I just want to play football, it's great to be heading back to my home state [...] It's been a roller coaster this past week but I'm happy where I'm at now [...] I'm just looking forward to being a Cowboy, my focus is on making the team."

Sam was released from the St. Louis Rams this past Saturday.