Johnny Manziel may have left the NFL years ago, but he’s still carrying around one grudge like it’s a Super Bowl ring. The former Cleveland Browns quarterback recently lit up the Nightcap podcast with a tirade about his time in Ohio, and let’s just say he doesn’t plan on sending the franchise a Christmas card anytime soon.
“I sit here today and I’m like, ‘F**k it, I think I’m going to be pissed at them and hate them forever,’” Manziel said, not even trying to soften the blow. “So, it is what it is, man. No love for the Browns, I’m rooting for 0-16 seasons every season.”
Yes, you read that right. Johnny Football isn’t just rooting against the Browns; he wants them to go winless every single year. Of course, he may need a quick refresher because the NFL season is now 17 games. But hey, when you’re publicly wishing failure on your old team, math probably isn’t your top priority.
Johnny Manziel Seemingly Can’t Let Go of the Past
For context, Manziel lasted just two seasons in Cleveland, Ohio after being drafted in the first round in 2014. His time there was… chaotic, to put it kindly. The hype was unreal, the spotlight was scorching, and the results were a complete disaster. Manziel himself admits it didn’t pan out the way anyone wanted.
“I think I will always be looked at and viewed at because of how much hype and media and everything that was around me, and the city of Cleveland expecting me to be great, and that ultimately not panning out,” he said. That disappointment, according to him, has turned into permanent bitterness. However, Browns fans haven’t even thought about Johnny in years. “Nice job growing up,” one fan told Manziel via X. Finally, another said, “This guy only cries, that’s all he does.”
But here’s where things get interesting. Even while ripping the Browns, Manziel admitted that a lot of the blame falls on his own shoulders. “Was Cleveland the best situation for me to go to? Did they help me, knowing all the things they knew about me, with all the research and everything, did they put me in the best situation? Absolutely not. It was not the right situation for me,” he explained. “But when it comes down to it, you take all of that aside and you throw it away, you look in the mirror and you say, I let an amazing opportunity slip. It’s on me.”
That’s a rare dose of self-awareness from a guy who once lived like the NFL was just another frat party. Manziel is basically saying the Browns didn’t set him up for success, but he still blew a golden chance. And he’s not wrong, Cleveland was a quarterback graveyard for years, chewing up and spitting out prospects like sunflower seeds. Still, many of those players didn’t crash and burn quite as spectacularly as Manziel.
Ohio Has Moved On, but Has Johnny Manziel?
So, where does this leave things? Manziel is out of football, still salty, and apparently keeping tabs on the Browns only to root for their downfall. Meanwhile, Cleveland fans have moved on, finding actual hope with Deshaun Watson (when he’s healthy) and a playoff-caliber roster. Nobody in Cleveland is sitting around wondering what might have been with Johnny Football.
But Manziel clearly hasn’t let go. He’s stuck in 2014, reliving the hype, the headlines, and the disappointment. While Browns fans have their eyes on bigger goals, Manziel just wants to watch them fall flat on their face. It’s bitter, it’s petty, and honestly? It’s kind of on-brand.
At the end of the day, Johnny Football vs. the Cleveland Browns is a battle that doesn’t really exist anymore, except in Johnny Manziel’s head. For him, every Browns win is a reminder of what could have been, and every loss is a little dose of satisfaction. And who knows? If the Browns ever have another rough season, Manziel will probably be the first to post a “told you so” grin. Until then, Ohio is chasing wins, and Johnny Football is chasing ghosts.
