"Johnny Football", Johnathan Paul Manziel, is a former American football quarterback known for his short but eventful career. He played two seasons with the NFL's Cleveland Browns. He also played in the CFL for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes in 2018. In 2019, he joined the Memphis Express of the AAF and later played in Fan Controlled Football from 2021 to 2022.
1907: Great-Great-Grandfather's Immigration
Johnny Manziel's paternal great-great-grandfather Joseph immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 1907 and settled in Louisiana.
December 6, 1992: Birth of Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel was born on December 6, 1992. He would later become known as "Johnny Football" and play as a quarterback in professional football leagues.
2010: NUC All World Game Performance
In 2010, Johnny Manziel played in the NUC All World Game, rushing for over 100 yards and throwing for over 200 yards, marking his first dominance on a national stage.
2011: Quarterback Position Uncertainty
After Ryan Tannehill left for the National Football League following the 2011 season, Johnny Manziel performed well during spring ball and fall practices and won the starting quarterback job.
2011: Received Athletic Scholarship
In 2011, Johnny Manziel received an athletic scholarship to attend Texas A&M University, where he played under coach Mike Sherman and later Kevin Sumlin.
2011: Redshirted Season
Johnny Manziel was redshirted during the 2011 season and did not play in any games, but he made the travel squad after enrolling in January.
June 29, 2012: Arrested and charged with misdemeanors
On June 29, 2012, Johnny Manziel was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors—disorderly conduct, failure to produce identification, and possession of a fictitious driver's license—stemming from a late-night fight in College Station, Texas.
August 30, 2012: Postponed Game Due to Hurricane
Johnny Manziel's first game against Louisiana Tech was supposed to be on August 30, 2012, but it was postponed due to Hurricane Isaac hitting the Louisiana coast.
2012: College Football Debut and Records
In 2012, Johnny Manziel debuted in college football for Texas A&M Aggies as a redshirt freshman. He broke numerous NCAA and SEC records, becoming the first freshman to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
2012: Played for Texas A&M
In 2012, Johnny Manziel played for Texas A&M under coach Kevin Sumlin.
2012: Details of arrest and aftermath
In 2012, Johnny Manziel was involved in an altercation where he presented a fake Louisiana driver's license to police officers. He was taken into custody and spent the night in jail. Manziel later expressed that he had learned from the mistake and had to make significant changes in his life.
January 2013: Eligibility Questioned
In January 2013, Johnny Manziel's eligibility for the 2013 season was questioned following reports that he had signed autographs for money.
January 2013: NCAA investigation over autograph payments
In January 2013, the NCAA investigated whether Johnny Manziel accepted payments for autographs. Although no evidence was found, he was suspended for the first half of the season opener against Rice University for an 'inadvertent violation' of NCAA rules.
July 2013: Pleaded guilty to failure to produce identification
In July 2013, Johnny Manziel pleaded guilty to failure to produce identification, while the other two charges from his June 2012 arrest were dismissed.
August 28, 2013: Suspended for Signing Autographs
On August 28, 2013, Johnny Manziel was suspended for the first half of the game against Rice after the NCAA determined he did not receive money for signing autographs.
2013: Played for Texas A&M
In 2013, Johnny Manziel continued to play for Texas A&M under coach Kevin Sumlin.
2013: Trademark for 'Johnny Football'
Johnny Manziel applied for and was granted a registered trademark for the nickname 'Johnny Football' in 2013.
2013: Heisman Trophy and Cotton Bowl Victory
In 2013, Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, the Manning Award, and the Davey O'Brien Award. He also led Texas A&M to a 41-13 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
2013: Offseason controversies at Texas A&M
During the 2013 offseason at Texas A&M, Johnny Manziel drew significant media attention for his off-field behavior, including leaving the Manning Passing Academy early, tweeting about leaving College Station after a parking ticket, and getting kicked out of a University of Texas fraternity party.
2013: School Records and Heisman Voting
In 2013, Johnny Manziel set a school record by throwing for 464 yards and five touchdowns against Alabama. He tied his single-game career-high with five touchdowns against Mississippi State, finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.
January 2014: Announced NFL Draft Entry
In January 2014, Johnny Manziel announced he would forgo his junior season and enter the 2014 NFL draft, being projected as a first-round pick.
January 15, 2014: Draft Stock Rising
As of January 15, 2014, experts reported Johnny Manziel's draft stock was rising, pegging him as a top-five pick.
March 27, 2014: Pro Day Performance
On March 27, 2014, Johnny Manziel completed 64 of 66 passes during Texas A&M's Pro Day, impressing sports journalists.
April 2014: Drake Releases "Draft Day" Featuring Shoutout to Manziel
In April 2014, rap artist Drake released a track titled "Draft Day," which included a shoutout to his friend Johnny Manziel.
August 22, 2014: Fined by NFL
On August 22, 2014, Manziel was fined $12,000 by the NFL for making an inappropriate hand gesture during a preseason game against the Washington Redskins.
November 30, 2014: First NFL Touchdown
On November 30, 2014, Manziel entered the game against the Buffalo Bills as a replacement for Brian Hoyer and scored his first NFL touchdown on a 10-yard rush.
December 21, 2014: Hamstring Injury
Manziel suffered a hamstring injury during a game against the Carolina Panthers on December 21, 2014, and was replaced by Brian Hoyer.
2014: Polarizing Draft Opinions
Prior to the 2014 NFL draft, Johnny Manziel became one of the most polarizing athletes, with opinions ranging from 'undraftable' to 'rare competitor'.
2014: Drafted by the Cleveland Browns
Johnny Manziel was selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
2014: Drafted by MLB
In the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, Johnny Manziel was drafted in the 28th round by the San Diego Padres as a shortstop.
October 2015: Pulled over after fight with girlfriend
During October of the 2015 season, Johnny Manziel was pulled over by police after fighting in his car with his then-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley. Although no charges were made, Manziel admitted to having had some alcoholic drinks earlier that day.
2015: Released by the Cleveland Browns
At the end of the 2015 season, Johnny Manziel was released by the Cleveland Browns following a tenure overshadowed by off-field controversies.
January 2, 2016: Seen at Las Vegas casino
On January 2, 2016, Johnny Manziel was seen at Las Vegas' Planet Hollywood casino the night before the Browns' final game of the 2015 season. He was scratched from the game due to a concussion and failed to report to the Browns the next day.
January 6, 2016: Marketing agency and agent cut ties
On January 6, 2016, Johnny Manziel's marketing agency, LRMR, and his agent, Erik Burkhardt, announced that they would no longer work with him.
January 30, 2016: Altercation with ex-girlfriend
On January 30, 2016, Johnny Manziel was involved in an altercation with his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, in which he allegedly forced her into a car and threatened to kill both of them.
February 5, 2016: Criminal investigation for domestic violence
On February 5, 2016, the Dallas Police Department opened a criminal investigation involving Johnny Manziel and his ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, stemming from an altercation on January 30, 2016. This incident contributed to the Browns' decision to cut ties with him.
February 2016: Browns Announce Intent to Release Manziel
In February 2016, reports surfaced that the Browns were planning to release Manziel. The team released a statement expressing their intent to move on from the quarterback due to his off-field behavior.
March 11, 2016: Released by Browns
Following a series of off-field issues and a domestic violence investigation, the Cleveland Browns officially released Manziel on March 11, 2016.
April 19, 2016: Agent and Nike end relationships
On April 19, 2016, Johnny Manziel's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, terminated their relationship, marking the first time in his 27-year career he did so with an NFL player. On the same day, Nike ended its sponsorship with Manziel.
June 24, 2016: Attorney's accidental text and father's concerns
On June 24, 2016, Johnny Manziel's attorney accidentally sent a text message expressing concerns about Manziel's ability to stay clean. On the same day, Manziel's father told ESPN that he hoped his son would go to jail to avoid a worse fate.
June 30, 2016: Suspended for violating NFL substance abuse policy
On June 30, 2016, Johnny Manziel was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 NFL season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
September 5, 2016: Returns to alma mater
On September 5, 2016, Johnny Manziel returned to his alma mater to take classes.
December 2, 2016: Finalizes plea agreement
On December 2, 2016, Johnny Manziel and prosecutors finalized a plea agreement in which Manziel agreed to undergo counseling and have his conduct monitored by prosecutors for up to a year or face prosecution.
2016: NFL Hiatus
After further controversies during the 2016 offseason, Johnny Manziel was not signed by any team and spent two years away from football.
March 10, 2017: Manziel Gets Engaged to Bre Tiesi
On March 10, 2017, Johnny Manziel got engaged to Bre Tiesi.
March 31, 2017: Negotiation List
On March 31, 2017, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL placed Manziel on their negotiation list, marking the beginning of a potential move to the Canadian league.
December 28, 2017: CFL Approves Manziel
On December 28, 2017, the CFL officially approved Manziel to play in the league, paving the way for him to sign with a team for the 2018 season.
2017: CFL Workout and Evaluation
In 2017, Manziel underwent a workout with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and met with CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie as part of the league's evaluation process for his potential entry.
January 31, 2018: Contract Negotiations and Spring League
Contract negotiations between Manziel's agent and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats continued, with a deadline of January 31, 2018, set for a deal to be reached. Manziel also agreed to play in The Spring League, a developmental league, in the meantime.
February 2018: Manziel Reveals Bipolar Diagnosis
In February 2018, Johnny Manziel opened up about his personal struggles, sharing that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
March 2018: Manziel Marries Bre Tiesi
Johnny Manziel and Bre Tiesi were married in a private ceremony in March 2018.
May 19, 2018: Signs With Tiger-Cats
On May 19, 2018, Johnny Manziel officially signed a two-year contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL.
2018: CFL Eligibility Decision
The CFL announced that Manziel would not be eligible to sign with any team for the 2017 season but could potentially play in the league in 2018 if he met certain conditions.
March 16, 2019: Signs with Memphis Express
On March 16, 2019, Manziel signed with the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), marking his return to professional football after his CFL release.
March 24, 2019: Debut against Birmingham Iron
On March 24, 2019, Johnny Manziel made his debut against the Birmingham Iron, playing three drives in the second and third quarters as a backup to Brandon Silvers. He completed three of five passes for 48 yards and ran for 20 yards as the Express won 31–25.
March 30, 2019: Concussion against Orlando Apollos
On March 30, 2019, during a game against the Orlando Apollos, Johnny Manziel was removed from the game due to a concussion suffered while attempting to make a tackle after throwing an interception.
April 2, 2019: AAF suspends football operations
On April 2, 2019, the Alliance of American Football (AAF) suspended football operations, effectively ending the 2019 season.
2019: Joined AAF
Johnny Manziel joined the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019.
2019: Released by CFL, Joins AAF
Manziel's time in the CFL ended in 2019 when he was released for violating the terms of his contract. He subsequently joined the Alliance of American Football (AAF).
2019: Shortest First-Round Quarterback Until 2019
Johnny Manziel was the shortest quarterback drafted in the first round until Kyler Murray in 2019.
September 2020: Announces retirement from football
In September 2020, Johnny Manziel announced his retirement from football when asked about potentially playing in the XFL. He stated, 'I think football is a little bit behind me ... Football for me is not at the forefront of my mind.'
December 30, 2020: Signs with Fan Controlled Football
On December 30, 2020, Johnny Manziel signed with Fan Controlled Football (FCF), an indoor American football league, and was assigned to the Zappers, a team co-owned by his friend Bob Menery.
2020: Traded to Montreal Alouettes
In a trade that involved multiple players and draft picks, Johnny Manziel was sent from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to the Montreal Alouettes.
February 2021: Expresses disinterest in future professional football
In a February 2021 interview with USA Today, Johnny Manziel stated he joined the Fan Controlled Football (FCF) league out of boredom and expressed disinterest in playing any more professional football in the future.
November 2021: Manziel and Tiesi Divorce
Johnny Manziel and Bre Tiesi finalized their divorce in November 2021.
2021: Played in Fan Controlled Football
In 2021, Johnny Manziel started playing in Fan Controlled Football, continuing through 2022.
2021: Traded to Montreal Alouettes
In a trade that involved multiple players and draft picks, Johnny Manziel was sent from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to the Montreal Alouettes.
March 25, 2022: Returns to FCF as player-coach
On March 25, 2022, Johnny Manziel announced he would return to Fan Controlled Football (FCF) for a second season, serving as a player-coach. He noted that the FCF did not pressure him to be the face of the league.
September 2022: Inducted into Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame
In September 2022, Johnny Manziel was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame.
2022: Played in Fan Controlled Football
Johnny Manziel continued his stint in Fan Controlled Football in 2022, having started in 2021.
August 8, 2023: "Johnny Football" Documentary Premieres on Netflix
On August 8, 2023, the Netflix documentary "Johnny Football," part of the UNTOLD anthology series, premiered. The film, which offered a glimpse into Manziel's life, received criticism from some, including Sports Illustrated, for its handling of his recovery journey.