When Did Johnny Manziel Leave the NFL
Johnny Manziel left the NFL in 2016 after the Cleveland Browns waived him on March 11, 2016, following a 2015 season that ended with a league suspension and limited playing time. He was drafted by the Browns with the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at Texas A&M in 2012, a fact reported by ESPN. His departure from the league came after two seasons with no starts in 2015 and a total of 20 career NFL games, with a career passer rating of 72.9 according to NFL.com.
After leaving the Browns roster, Manziel spent time on the practice squad of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League in 2016 and later signed with the Montreal Alouettes in 2018, as noted by CFL sources. He was released by Montreal in August 2019 without appearing in a regular-season CFL game, and no NFL team has signed him since his 2016 waiver. As of the latest public records, Manziel has not returned to an NFL active roster, and his last on-field action in a league game was in December 2015.
Why Did Johnny Manziel Leave the NFL
Performance and Off-Field Issues
Manziel left the NFL primarily because of inconsistent on-field performance, off-field conduct issues, and a league suspension that limited his ability to secure a roster spot. The Browns suspended him for the first game of the 2015 season due to a domestic violence investigation, and he appeared in only four games that year, completing 18 of 40 passes for 169 yards and two interceptions, per Pro Football Focus.
Off-field reports and video incidents contributed to his release, with the Browns citing a failure to meet behavioral standards as a factor in the decision to waive him. The NFL's personal conduct policy played a role in his suspension and subsequent lack of roster opportunities, and no team signed him to a standard active roster contract after 2016, as documented by league transaction logs.
Injury and Roster Competition
Injury history also played a role, as Manziel missed portions of training camp and preseason games with a hamstring issue in 2015 and dealt with a concussion earlier in his career. He faced intense competition for the backup quarterback role behind Josh McCown and later Tyrod Taylor, and the Browns moved on to other options after deciding his availability was unreliable.
What Is Johnny Manziel Doing Now
After leaving the NFL, Manziel has stayed out of the public spotlight regarding professional football, with no confirmed NFL, CFL, or XFL roster appearances in recent years. He has occasionally appeared in social media posts and interviews discussing his health and personal life, but he has not signed with a league team as of the latest available public information.
Manziel has explored business and media opportunities, including appearances on podcasts and social platforms, while focusing on personal development and health. He has not returned to competitive football at the professional level, and his last known team affiliation remains the Montreal Alouettes practice squad in 2019, according to CFL transaction records.