Johnny Manziel, you might know him as the quarterback that got all the hype when he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. Well, let me tell ya, that boy sure had himself a shiny contract when he first stepped into the big leagues. They gave him a four-year deal worth $8.25 million. Ain’t that somethin’? Now, he didn’t just get that money in a lump sum; they gave him a big ol’ signing bonus of $4.32 million right up front, so he didn’t have to wait long to get paid. And I reckon that $7.99 million of it was guaranteed, meaning he was gonna get that money no matter what, even if he didn’t last too long with the team.
Now, when the Browns picked Johnny in the first round, they sure thought they was gettin’ a steal. His rookie contract was pretty much the standard for players at that time. They slotted him in at that price based on how the NFL was doin’ things for rookie contracts back then. So, in total, the man was guaranteed a nice chunk of change for four seasons, though not all of it came from his salary alone.
What Does $8.25 Million Get Ya?
- 4-year deal, $8.25 million in total.
- Signing bonus of $4.32 million up front.
- Guaranteed salary of $7.99 million, so no matter how he performed, he was gettin’ paid.
- Averaging a nice $2.06 million every year, just for playin’ football.
Seems like a mighty good deal, don’t it? But here’s the thing — ol’ Johnny wasn’t with the Browns too long. He got cut after just two years into that contract. But by that time, he’d already earned around $7.7 million. And don’t forget, the boy also got paid from other places like endorsements and such. All that money came in handy when he was makin’ his way around different leagues later on, even after he left the NFL.
Now, if Johnny had stuck around and maybe kept his nose clean, who knows how much more he could’ve made? He got his Heisman Trophy in college, and if NIL deals had been around back then, I betcha he would’ve made even more just from college endorsements alone! He said himself that he was makin’ good money sellin’ his autograph before he even won the Heisman, but he didn’t start takin’ big bucks till after that. Sounds like he missed a golden opportunity there, don’t it?
How Johnny Manziel’s NFL Career Went
So, after all that fanfare and the big rookie contract, Johnny didn’t really last too long with the Browns. His time in the NFL didn’t exactly go as folks had hoped. But ya can’t blame him too much. Football’s a hard game, and not everyone makes it big for long. After his time with the Browns, Johnny did get a shot with the Memphis Express and later played in Fan Controlled Football. But he never did get back to the NFL after that. Still, the man kept hustlin’ and tried his hand at other ventures.
In 2024, Johnny Manziel launched a podcast called “Glory Daze.” He’s workin’ with Almost Friday Media on that, so looks like he’s found a new way to keep talkin’ about the good ol’ days and the highs and lows of his career. I reckon there’s a whole lot more to his story than what we saw on the field, that’s for sure.
Johnny’s Legacy
Folks still talk about Johnny Manziel, even though he ain’t playin’ football anymore. Some folks remember him for his wild antics, others for his Heisman win, and some just for the money he made at such a young age. Ain’t no doubt about it, he made a big splash when he came into the NFL, even if his career didn’t pan out the way people thought it would.
So, next time you hear his name, you’ll know that Johnny Manziel’s rookie contract wasn’t just any ol’ contract. It was a big ol’ deal with plenty of cash up front, and it set him up pretty good, even if things didn’t quite work out in the long run. Football’s a tough game, and sometimes it don’t go the way you think, but Johnny sure made sure to grab all the money he could while he had the chance. And that’s somethin’ to be proud of, if you ask me.
Tags：[Johnny Manziel, NFL, Rookie Contract, Cleveland Browns, Signing Bonus, Football, Heisman, Endorsements, Career Earnings, NFL Contracts]
