Michael Sam -- Planning On NFL Return ... Next Season!

Michael Sam says he's still serious about a return to the NFL ... and tells TMZ Sports he hopes to finally make his regular season debut in 2016.

The 25-year-old hit up Craig's Sunday night ... where we also asked for his take on the epic collapse of Colin Kaepernick out in San Fran this year.

Sam told us there's a silver lining in Colin's 49er demise -- and it's all about the new QB running the show.