College football legend Johnny Manziel made waves this week after claiming that, had he played in today’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era, he would have made so much money that going to the NFL would’ve been a “pay cut.”
Johnny Manziel Reflects on Missed NIL Millions, Takes Aim at Texas A&M’s Return on Investment
The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner dropped the bombshell during a recent interview with ESPN’s Greg McElroy, also taking a subtle jab at Texas A&M’s massive NIL spending with little to show for it on the field.
Manziel’s comments came in response to a question about how his NIL earnings would look if he were the quarterback of Texas A&M in 2024. “I really feel like I would’ve taken a pay cut had I gone to the NFL,” Manziel said. “Guys who are really marketable are making a great amount of money to the point where they have the opportunity to stay in school rather than go to the NFL early.”
It’s not hard to imagine. During his historic 2012 freshman season, Manziel became the first-ever freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, outpacing the competition by more than 150 first-place votes.
He threw for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 1,410 yards and 21 more scores. His 5,116 yards of total offense shattered the previous SEC record held by Cam Newton, making Manziel one of the most electrifying players in college football history.
Under today’s NIL system, a player with Manziel’s star power and national presence could realistically earn millions in endorsements, sponsorships, and social media deals.
In fact, during the 2012–13 academic year alone, Texas A&M brought in $740 million in donations, according to ESPN, a figure largely attributed to the Aggies’ move to the SEC and the national buzz surrounding Manziel’s play. While those funds didn’t come from NIL, the impact he had on the university’s bottom line was undeniable.
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Yet, despite the explosion of NIL opportunities in recent years, Manziel also pointed out the flaws in how some programs are approaching it. “If you look at A&M, I feel like we’ve put a ton of money into our NIL and it hasn’t necessarily translated onto the field,” he said.
His comments reflect a growing concern in college football, that NIL funds, often steered by wealthy boosters, don’t always result in better performance or stability.
Still, Manziel acknowledged there’s something special about the era he played in, even with its “underbelly” of shady dealings. But with NIL here to stay, he recognizes how different things could have been.