As the 2014 NFL draft neared its end, history was made.

Yesterday, University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team. In the seventh and final round, the St. Louis Rams selected Sam with the 249th overall pick; eight picks remained in the draft.

ESPN, in traditional fashion, showed a video of Sam receiving the call with the good news from Rams coach Jeff Fisher. While on the phone, Sam became overwhelmed with emotion; his boyfriend was standing by his side in support. After the call, the 6'1", 261-pound Missouri star also became the first NFL draftee to kiss his same-sex partner on national television.

The White House released a statement to ABC News from President Obama:

“The President congratulates Michael Sam, the Rams, and the NFL for taking an important step forward today in our nation’s journey. From the playing field to the corporate boardroom, LGBT Americans prove every day that you should be judged by what you do and not who you are.”

This isn’t the first time the Rams franchise has broken the mold. In 1946, the Rams, then in Los Angeles, made history by signing Kenny Washington, the first African American to sign a contract with an NFL team post–World War II.

Since Sam came out in an interview with ESPN in February, reactions from athletes have been, for the most part, positive; some NFL officials, however, said it may have affected his stock in the draft. While we can’t be sure whether his sexual orientation played into the late-draft selection, we can confirm that Sam, for one, is ecstatic.