Jonathan Paul Manziel, widely known as Johnny Manziel, is one of the most famous American football quarterbacks. Born in Tyler, Texas in 1992 to parents Paul and Michelle, he grew up playing many sports including golf, basketball, baseball, and football. He attended Kerr Middle School for his middle school education.
Read on to get a clear picture of Johnny Manziel Net worth and his career achievements.
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Johnny Manziel’s Early Life
Born on December 6th, 1992, in Texas, Johnny Manziel was raised in a family of sports lovers. His parents were both athletes themselves – his father played baseball and his mother was a softball star. From an early age, Johnny showed a natural talent for sports.
Johnny Manziel attended Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas. He was a member of the high school’s varsity team and was quite successful as a quarterback. In his senior year, he became the first freshman to start for the school’s team since 1944 and led them to an undefeated regular season and a district championship.
During his time there, he made a name for himself by demonstrating exceptional football skills and was named the district’s most valuable player of the year twice. He also became an all-state selection in baseball and a two-time academic all-district honoree. He became known as “Johnny Football” and gained a lot of attention from college football scouts.
He also earned several awards, including being named the All-American Player of the Year by Gatorade and ESPN.
Manziel’s College Football Career
After graduating from high school, Manziel’s out-of-this-world athleticism earned him a scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, and became part of the Aggies football team. In 2010, Manziel became the first freshman in history to win the Heisman Trophy, an award given annually to the best player in college football, and was also named an All-American and SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
He capped off his remarkable season with a Cotton Bowl victory against arch-rival Oklahoma. Following his college football career, in 2013, Johnny Manziel declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft where he was selected 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns where he would leave collegiate football behind.
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Professional Career
From 2014 to 2019, Manziel played in the National Football League (NFL) for various teams including the Cleveland Browns and Toronto Argonauts from the Canadian Football League (CFL). During his time in the NFL, Manziel not only played football but also had a few off-field run-ins with the law. He was arrested for disorderly conduct at a Texas fraternity party and in 2016 he was suspended for four games after violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Manziel’s career with the Browns was tumultuous and short-lived. In 2016, he was released from their roster after two underwhelming seasons and signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Manziel played for Hamilton for two years before being released in 2018 and subsequently signing with the Montreal Alouettes. He was cut by Montreal just one season later and sat out of professional football for the remainder of 2019.
Manziel also made his mark outside of the NFL by launching Fan Controlled Football (FCF), a digital media platform that allows fans to control their own professional football team.
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Johnny Manziel Net Worth and Earnings
With an estimated net worth of $6 million, Johnny Manziel has seen great success throughout his career. He is the first freshman in history to win the Heisman Trophy and he was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. Manziel has also made notable earnings through endorsements and appearances in commercials, movies, and television shows.
Prior to his NFL draft, HE got a multi-million dollar Nike endorsement deal which was later followed by a Gatorade endorsement deal. While playing for the Browns, he was also endorsed by McDonald’s, Nike, Bridgestone, and Snickers.
The total earnings from his debut year in the NFL were about $8 million. He earned around $2 million from endorsements, appearance fees, and other sources.
Achievements and Legacy
Johnny Manziel’s achievements reach far beyond football. He won the Heisman Trophy as a freshman, the Manning award, and also set records in college football for most total yards in a single season and most passing yards by a freshman. His NFL career, while not as successful as he had hoped, provided some exciting plays that allowed fans to believe that Manziel could still make an impact at the professional level.
Manziel’s legacy goes beyond the gridiron. He has become an advocate for mental health awareness, speaking out about his own struggles with depression and bipolar disorder. Manziel is a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights and has done charity work throughout the world including initiatives that combat poverty in Africa.
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Controversies
Johnny Manziel’s troubles with the law, NFL substance abuse policy violations, and off-field incidents have led to some controversy. In 2016 he was arrested for disorderly conduct at a Texas fraternity party where he would also sell autographs to students for money which led to him being kicked out of the university fraternity party.
In 2019 he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge after an incident involving his former girlfriend. He has also been accused of being disrespectful on the field, including spitting in the face of an opposing player during a CFL game. Manziel has also been accused of using drugs and alcohol excessively.
His behavior would result in the Browns cutting him from their roster and then the CFL banning him for two years not forgetting his terminated Nike contract and other endorsements.
Conclusion
Johnny Manziel has had an eventful football career that unfortunately did not live up to its full potential but is still inspiring in many ways. Despite his legal troubles, he has managed to stay active off the field through charity work, mental health advocacy, and launching the Fan Controlled Football league. His estimated net worth of $6 million is a testament to his commitment and success. Manziel will always be remembered as one of the most successful college football players of all time and an inspiration for those looking to make it big in professional sports.