Johnny Manziel and the Montreal Alouettes
Johnny Manziel, the former NFL quarterback, signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in June 2018. He joined the team following his release from the Cleveland Browns and a brief stint with the Alliance of American Football's Memphis Express. The CFL signing represented a major career pivot for Manziel, who had been drafted by the Browns with the 22nd pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. His time in Montreal was short-lived, as he was released by the Alouettes in September 2018 after appearing in only a few games. The move to the CFL was widely covered as a final major professional attempt before his departure from top-tier football, with details reported by ESPN and other sports outlets. The signing generated significant media attention due to Manziel's tumultuous NFL career and his Heisman Trophy win at Texas A&M in 2012.
The Montreal Alouettes, a team in the East Division of the CFL, signed Manziel to a practice roster agreement initially. The CFL is a professional football league with teams across Canada, and the Alouettes are based in Montreal, Quebec. Manziel's contract and roster status were governed by CFL rules and salary cap structures, which differ significantly from the NFL's system. The league's salary cap for the 2018 season was approximately CAD 5.2 million per team, and practice roster players earn a weekly stipend rather than a full salary. Manziel's brief tenure with the Alouettes is documented in team transaction logs and league records. His release came after the team signed other quarterbacks, effectively ending his formal professional playing career in organized football leagues.
Career Statistics and Professional Timeline
Johnny Manziel's professional football timeline includes the 2014 NFL Draft, two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, a short period with the AAF's Memphis Express, and the 2018 Montreal Alouettes stint. In the NFL, Manziel played in 14 games over two seasons, completing 38.3% of his passes for 1,675 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions, according to Pro Football Reference. His CFL statistics with Montreal were minimal, as he did not start any regular-season games and was released before the season concluded. The Heisman Trophy he won in 2012 as a freshman at Texas A&M remains his most significant collegiate achievement. His professional career is often cited as a cautionary tale about the transition from college to pro football, with his on-field struggles contrasting sharply with his college success.
The financial trajectory of Johnny Manziel's career includes his NFL rookie contract, which was a four-year deal worth approximately $7.6 million with a $3.4 million signing bonus. After his NFL release, his earnings shifted to short-term CFL and AAF contracts, which are typically worth a fraction of NFL salaries. The CFL's minimum salary for a player on a practice roster is significantly lower than the NFL's veteran minimum. Manziel's post-football business ventures and public appearances have been documented in financial and sports news reports. His current net worth and income sources are often discussed in celebrity finance contexts, with his football earnings forming the bulk of his public financial history. The brevity of his professional tenures in Montreal and elsewhere underscores the volatility of athletic careers in major North American leagues.
Current Status and Post-Football Activities
As of the latest available public records, Johnny Manziel is not currently on the roster of any professional football team, including the Montreal Alouettes. His post-football activities have included media appearances, business ventures, and personal projects, with his status frequently updated in sports and entertainment news. The CFL and NFL have both moved forward without him, and his name is now primarily associated with his college legacy