Johnny Manziel thinks he would have stayed in college had NIL laws existed

The implementation of name, image and likeness (NIL) laws in college sports was a landmark moment as it finally allowed college athletes to profit from their fame. But while monetization of popularity may have been NIL’s primary aim, an additional benefit has appeared in the form of college athletes not being quite as quick to swap campus for a career.

Former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy – college football’s most prestigious individual honor – as a freshman, the only player ever to do so. The following season, he finished 5th in the voting and then announced that he’d be leaving college early to pursue a career in the NFL. Few were surprised by the decision as the riches that awaited him on the next level were far too enticing to pass up.

But in a recent interview with the Throwbacks podcast, Manziel stated that he thinks he would have stayed in college had NIL laws been in place during his time at Texas A&M.

“I think it would’ve given me the opportunity to still be at a place at A&M like that, to be able to make money and be able to still continue to go play the college football life. It’s tough for me looking back having left two years of eligibility on the table.”

Manziel, the 22nd pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, even suggested that the financial benefit of remaining at Texas A&M may have been on equal footing with his earning potential as a young player in the National Football League.

“You get into your rookie contract if you’re not taken high enough, I mean, I could’ve stayed two more years in college and probably made what I made throughout the 4 years of your NFL deal.”

When he entered the league, Manziel signed a 4-year, $8.2 million contract with the Cleveland Browns, $7.9 million of which was guaranteed. While having that kind of money available to him in college would have been ideal, Manziel feels no resentment towards today’s athletes. Instead, he takes pride in having helped pave the way for current players to benefit.

“There had to be a lot to happen to be able to even get to that point to be able to be where it is today. You know? So, I look at it now and I think it’s great.”

---

New episodes of “Throwbacks” drop every Thursday. Watch on YouTube, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Follow the show @ThrowbacksShow on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook for bonus content.