OWN to air Michael Sam documentary series

Michael Sam made history on Saturday when he became the first openly gay football player to be selected in the NFL draft. Now the St. Louis Rams pick will be the subject of a multipart documentary series on OWN from the same team that created the Lindsay Lohan OWN series, “Lindsay.”

Sam created headlines over the weekend when ESPN aired a shot of him kissing his boyfriend upon learning about his NFL placement. It was the kind of human moment that made Sam’s story more than just another athletic move. Though the series doesn’t have a title yet, it promises to provide many more intimate moments like that one.

“We are honored that Michael is trusting us with his private journey in this moment that has not only made history but will shape it forever,” Oprah Winfrey said in a statement.

Filmmaker Amy Rice and executive producer Craig Piligian are behind the series. Their previous effort for OWN, “Lindsay,” generated many headlines for the troubled actress, but suffered from chronically low ratings.

The new series will follow Sam through his preparations to join the Rams after his time as a star player at the University of Missouri. But Rams fans shouldn’t worry that OWN’s cameras will distract him from the reason he’s there.

“Like every player out there working to make a team right now, my focus is on playing football to the very best of my ability,” Sam said. “I am determined.”