From Darkness to Redemption: The Unveiling of Johnny Manziel's Untold Journey

Johnny Manziel, the infamous quarterback, is finally opening up about his tumultuous journey, both on and off the football field, in Netflix's Untold: Johnny Football. This captivating documentary delves into his stirring battles with mental health and sheds light on the series of controversies that plagued his career, starting with his arrest just weeks before his debut as Texas A&M's quarterback at the fervently football-focused university.

“I have little memory except for waking up shirtless on a concrete bench in Bryan County Jail,” Manziel recounted to Netflix cameras. He had been arrested for a fake ID after a fight. "[A&M’s statement] mentioned that it was out of character for me. ... Looking back now, I realize it was actually in line with my character."

However, it didn't take long into the 2012 season for Manziel to demonstrate that his on-field performance was unaffected by his excessive partying. Consequently, his coaches, as they later confessed, allowed him the freedom to do as he pleased — and that's how "Johnny Football" came to be.

After leading the Aggies to a stunning upset against the top-ranked Alabama in November, Manziel described his experience of receiving celebrity treatment both on and off A&M's College Station campus. "You walk off the field feeling like a royalty," he exclaimed.

Just a month later, Manziel became a household name by becoming the first freshman ever to win the Heisman Trophy, an annual award given to the best college football player in the country. While his exceptional performance brought A&M a substantial amount of money and publicity - Manziel's Heisman win was estimated to generate around $37 million worth of free PR for the university - he quickly grew frustrated by the fact that he wasn't benefiting financially from it.

Johnny Manziel. MEGA

“There were two instances during the season when I had to sign countless autographs for our donors,” Manziel revealed, referencing the events organized by the university to generate funds for a new stadium. “I was frustrated with constantly being broke, especially considering the massive success of the 45 million No. 2 A&M Adidas jerseys sold. It just didn't add up, and I had a personal grievance."

Disregarding NCAA regulations that prohibited college athletes from profiting from their own images, Manziel and his then–best friend Nate Fitch took the decision to sell autographs in January 2013. Their initial partnership with an unidentified "autograph kingpin" who, according to Fitch, had been endorsed by Alex Rodríguez during a phone conversation, resulted in a $30,000 profit.

Content must be rewritten as follows:

The two best friends subsequently started partying with celebrities like Drake, Rick Ross, LeBron James, Jessica Biel, and Justin Timberlake. "None of them could believe that Johnny was there," Fitch revealed.

Due to A&M's advice for freshmen to avoid the media, Fitch had to handle questions about Manziel's sudden wealth and his lies about coming from a wealthy family involved in the oil industry. The two men earned over $100,000, with the money split 80/20, before the NCAA began investigating Manziel. Fitch and Manziel managed to somewhat cover their tracks by exchanging the cash for checks from Manziel's grandfather. This resulted in Manziel being suspended for only half a game, allowing them to continue their autograph business during the 2013-2014 season.

During Manziel's sophomore year, A&M achieved an 8-4 record. However, his erratic behavior, such as skipping practice and appearing hungover, drew considerable criticism. Manziel himself acknowledged his arrogance, thinking, "Forget about practice. I'm the top player in the nation." He believed that, whether acknowledged or not, he had surpassed the significance of College Station.

As the season concluded, Manziel announced his intention to enter the NFL draft. This decision led to a falling out between Fitch and Manziel when the athlete enlisted the services of professional agent Erik Burkhardt.

Manziel revealed that initially, they had assured Nate that there wouldn't be another man present in their daily life. However, when they informed Nate that the situation had changed, he seemed to feel diminished and distanced himself. Since then, they haven't communicated. Deep down, Manziel felt awful about it, but he understood that given his past, they wouldn't allow him to have that kind of arrangement.

Leading up to the NFL combine, a crucial evaluation where teams assess the skills of former college players, Burkhardt made efforts to ensure Manziel stayed on the right path by subjecting him to weekly drug tests. Manziel acknowledged that he managed to stay disciplined until the week before the Indy combine when he finally succumbed and attended a party with rappers and actresses in L.A. The next thing he knew, he woke up in a hotel room without any recollection of how he got there.

Johnny Manziel. Larry W Smith/EPA/Shutterstock

Burkhardt suggested that Manziel's father simulate a hospital visit to buy him more time, but Manziel was confident in his ability to flush out the drugs by consuming ample amounts of water, a tactic he claimed to have used during college. However, Burkhardt eventually discovered that the fourth-string quarterback for the Aggies was actually providing Manziel with his own clean urine. Despite the tense situation, Manziel successfully passed the drug test and came close to securing a deal with the Houston Texans, until his intoxicated behavior at the owner's country club derailed the opportunity. Ultimately, Manziel was selected as the 22nd pick in the first round by the Cleveland Browns.

"After achieving everything I desired, I realized I had never felt emptier inside," remarked Manziel, expressing his lack of camaraderie with his teammates in Cleveland. Confessing to neglecting game analysis and facing difficulties both on and off the field, he admitted, "I would sit in my downtown Cleveland condo, feeling as though it was the only escape from everyone and everything. Each day, as I peered out of those windows, a sense of emptiness consumed me. Transitioning from one scrutinizing city to another, I had lost all interest in football."

In 2015, his struggles with substance abuse resurfaced, leading to his release from the team after he skipped a game to party in Las Vegas. Following this, Manziel experienced a significant downward spiral and ultimately got arrested after an altercation with his then-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley.

"During our relationship, I was not faithful. We had a heated argument, and she even tried to jump out of the car..." he trailed off, reflecting on the events.

Johnny Manziel. Photographer Group/MEGA

Manziel's agent cut ties with him and he became disconnected from his family.

"It was during this time that my drug use escalated to a regular, daily habit. I primarily relied on cocaine and Oxys," he admitted. "Within a span of eight months, I went from weighing 215 pounds in January to 175 pounds in September. My mental state felt incredibly distorted. I was eventually diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, which made me feel as though I was being compared to an alcoholic or a drug addict."

Manziel reflected on his excessive spending spree, which amounted to a staggering $5 million, as a deliberate act of self-destruction, aiming to bring everything crashing down.

During that time, he had intended to indulge in every desire and exhaust his finances before ultimately taking his own life. He had even obtained a firearm specifically for that purpose. His intention was to reach such a low point that it would appear justified and offer an escape. However, inexplicably, the gun malfunctioned when he needed it most.

Manziel returned to Texas, acknowledging that he was unable to rectify the issues he had with Colleen, the NFL, and A&M, and admitting to having a strained relationship with his family. As per his sister's insight, Manziel remains a project that is continuously evolving.

"People may have concerns about me at times, which is understandable," he concluded. "I have provided them with valid reasons to feel that way. If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or contemplating suicide, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988."