Texas A&M icon Johnny Manziel is reportedly looking to get back into sports but not for the one that put him on the map.
Few names become synonymous with their college programs, with Texas A&M and Johnny Manziel one of those iconic pairings.
Dubbed "Johnny Football," Manziel lit College Station and the college football landscape on fire during his breakout freshman season at quarterback with the Aggies. His efforts netted him the prestigious Heisman Trophy, becoming the first freshman to take home the title.
After two seasons in Aggieland, Manziel chose to head to the NFL, where he was selected by the Cleveland Brown at No. 22-overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. With a franchise that is not especially known for producing great quarterbacks, he struggled to replicate the success he found in college.
Combined with the on-field slump, Manziel battled off-the-field issues throughout his short stint in Cleveland, which eventually led to the team releasing him in 2015. He would bounce around the Canadian Football League (CFL) and other pro leagues for a few years but never made a return to the NFL.
Manziel stepped away from football in 2022 and has yet to make a return. However, recent news revealed that he is interested in making a comeback in another sport.
According to Andreas Hale of ESPN, the former star QB is trading the gridiron for a boxing ring. Manziel is set to face off with another newly minted fighter in social-media influencer Bob Menery in his debut.
The fight is scheduled for a few weeks from now on May 23 and will be held inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
It seems fitting that Manziel is beginning a new chapter in his legacy right after the conclusion of the latest NFL Draft, which is where many thought he would become the next great quarterback.
Now, Manziel steps into the ring to showcase his boxing talents, or potentially lack thereof, in a unexpected twist that would sound like a joke if it was reported 12 years ago.
Regardless of how it plays out, it is refreshing to see one of the greatest all-time talents in college football return to the national attention, albeit in an unconventional way.
While it appears on the surface to be a marketing tactic or a way to get quick cash for Manziel and other, who knows, maybe he will find the avenue that provides him the earn the success that was supposed to come from his football career.
No matter what new venture he steps into, now or in the future, Manziel will always be a legend for Texas A&M and linked to the Aggies for the historic achievements they made together.