Johnny Manziel entered the NFL in 2014 as a first-round pick with unbelievable hype. Just two years later, he was out of the league with no hope of returning. Now 27, it seems Manziel has finally moved on from his football career.
Where is Johnny Manziel now?
Manziel lasted just two seasons with the Cleveland Browns before off-field issues pushed him out of the league. He went through a myriad of legal problems in the following years, including a domestic violence charge in 2016.
He eventually found his way back to football in 2018. After joining the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Manziel was traded to the Montreal Alouettes. Across eight games, he threw for 1,290 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
After violating the terms of his CFL contract in 2019, the Alouettes released him after he reportedly missed multiple required meetings with a therapist. Manziel later signed with the Alliance of American Football league, playing in just two games before the AAF folded.
Following years fo trying to prove he is worth another shot in the NFL, Manziel now seems to be moving on. In a recent interview with the Lubbock Avalance-Journal‘s Don Williams, Manziel opened up about his new state of mind.
“In the past, probably, is the way I’d characterize it,” Manziel said, via the Lubbock Avalance-Journal. “I’ve finally got to a point where I’m trying to achieve happiness in life, not happiness on the football field.”
Manziel admitted that he didn’t put the work in that was necessary to become a great NFL player. Simply put, his heart wasn’t ever really in it and that reflected on his failed stints in the NFL and CFL.
While his football career might be over, Manziel seems to be in a much better place mentally and seems to be living a happier life.
“I know a lot of people probably want me to come back and play and give it another chance, but I don’t know, as far as being a person and figuring out life as a young adult — trying to make it and figure it out — if I’ve ever been in a better place than I’m in right now,” Manziel said. “I can honestly say I’m happy and I’m doing the right things to try and put a smile on my face every day, and that means more to me than going out and grinding on a football field.”
It’s great to see that Manziel has seemingly turned his life around. While he might not have made the impact on the field that people expected, he still has plenty of time to impact others’ lives to help them avoid stumbling.