Johnny Manziel blew up his NFL shot with the Cleveland Browns and knows it was all on him | NFL News
Johnny Manziel stepped into the NFL with big hopes after an impressive college run, but his time with the Cleveland Browns ended unexpectedly due to a string of off-field troubles. He’s reflected on these incidents in various interviews and shows, often recognizing his own contribution to ruining his shot at a professional football career.
Johnny Manziel’s preparation and commitment issues frustrate Cleveland Browns coaching staff
Manziel’s challenges kicked off quite early in his NFL career. In a preseason game, he faced a $12,000 fine from the NFL for giving the middle finger to an opposing team. He went into rehab in February 2015 for issues related to substance abuse.In May 2015, he threw a water bottle at a heckler during a golf event. Later that year, in November 2015, he was demoted from his starting quarterback role after videos came out showing him partying in Texas during the Browns’ bye week, and he reportedly misled his coach about when the video was filmed.Manziel skipped a game because of a concussion but was seen partying in Las Vegas instead of going to practice. He even admitted to dressing up in disguise after being recognized and ended up missing his flight back. After the 2015 season, he revealed that he was secretly using OxyContin and cocaine every day.In a Netflix documentary released in 2023, Manziel confessed that he didn’t watch any game tape while with the Browns, which led the team’s GM to inform his agent that his iPad usage was at a complete zero. These events contributed to a trend of being unprepared and not taking team responsibilities seriously.
Johnny Manziel faces criminal investigation following allegations from Colleen Crowley
In January 2016, Colleen Crowley, who used to date Manziel, submitted an affidavit claiming there was an altercation that involved domestic violence. This prompted a criminal investigation by the Dallas police. In April 2016, he was charged with misdemeanor assault.That same month, the Browns cut him loose. At that time, Browns head coach Hue Jackson said, “I want to make sure we all understand that that behavior will not be tolerated as we move forward,” in a press conference addressing Manziel’s release.The charges were dropped in November 2017 after Manziel finished an anger management class, went to a domestic violence impact panel, and took part in the NFL’s substance-abuse program.
Johnny Manziel was released from the Montreal Alouettes and deemed ineligible to play
After getting out, Manziel blew $5 million on a wild spree and never made it back to the NFL. He played in some other leagues, like the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2018, where he got traded to the Montreal Alouettes but was released in 2019 and ruled ineligible. He also had stints in the Alliance of American Football and the Spring League.In 2018, Manziel shared with ESPN that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He went on to explain to USA Today that same year, stating, “That’s the scary thing about my mental health: If I don’t continuously take care of it and make it the biggest priority in my life, I’m going to struggle,” adding, “That’s hard to say. You’re making mental health a priority over your job? Well, there is no job without my mental health. There is no life and there is no family for me without my head.”In 2018, he mentioned it on Good Morning America, “At the end of the day I can’t help that my wires are a little bit differently crossed than yours, I can’t help my mental makeup of the way that I was created. But I know if I stay on these meds and I continue to do what I am doing right now … I think my dad, my mom, I think [my girlfriend] would all agree that they see a drastic change.”
Johnny Manziel opens up about feeling empty despite his Heisman Trophy success
In the 2023 Untold documentary on Netflix, Manziel talked about feeling empty even with all his success, saying, “When I had gotten everything I’d ever wanted, I think I was the most empty that I ever felt inside. I think I was trying to suppress how I felt and get out of being Johnny Football.” He revealed buying a gun for a planned suicide, saying, “[I] had bought a gun that I knew I was going to use. I had planned to do everything that I wanted to do at that point in my life, spend as much money as I possibly could, and then my plan was to take my own life.“In the premiere of season 4 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, broadcast on September 25, 2025, Manziel revealed his thoughts during a confessional, “After I got my most success and won the Heisman Trophy as a freshman, I think I just got treated differently.”He added, “I lost a huge part of my work ethic [and] I gave up on a real opportunity, a football career, and walked away from it pretty quick.” Manziel described himself as someone who “doesn’t realize my mistakes sometimes until it’s too late,” stating, “Looking back, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to live with the shame and the regret. It got to a point where, you know, I didn’t want to live and I did want to end my life.”He also said, “I gave up on myself and lately, it’s been something that’s eating me alive.” In the same episode, he noted spending time on the golf course since leaving football and viewing the show as a physical test.On the Thomahawk Podcast, Manziel said, “I felt like I couldn’t solidify or fix my home life without going out there. So, I had this reckless, reckless plan.” In a 2024 Fox News interview, he hinted at avoiding alcohol and drugs, saying, “I really didn’t see that until it was too late.”Also Read: Chris Jones backs Travis Kelce after sideline clash with Andy Reid as Kansas City Chiefs struggle with 1-2 startJohnny Manziel’s journey is a vivid depiction of skill, self-destruction, and harsh realities. He’s not shying away from the chaos of his history anymore; instead, he’s confronting it directly, openly recognizing the harm and the struggles he’s faced.
