It’s been years since the football world has seen Johnny Manziel do his famed money celebration, as his NFL career derailed after being drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns.
But now the former NFL quarterback will have a new place to do his famed money gesture: His own bar and restaurant.
Details Emerge on ‘Johnny Manziel Money Bar’
Manziel announced on his personal Instagram page on Monday that “Johnny Manziel’s Money Bar” is coming soon.
And the location? The Northgate District and in College Station — where Manziel’s legend grew.
Texas A&M fans remember Manziel for being the flashy, cocky, but dynamic passer who went on to win the 2012 Heisman Trophy, becoming only the second Aggies player in school history to win the award along with John David Crow.
The “money” gesture became popularized following his then-NCAA suspension and violation for selling his own autograph before the era of Name Image and Likeness (NIL) deals.
When will the bar be open? Per the website, it’ll operate between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, and then from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Manziel is partnering with four others in this venture and has placed the venue near the Texas A&M campus. The Northgate District is known for shopping, dining, and nightlife for Aggies students and visitors who flock to the campus.
Manziel Soon To Explain His Party Life Habits, and Football Demise, in Upcoming Documentary
While beloved in “Aggieland” and College Station, Manziel is known by several other football fans as a first-round bust who never materialized in the league.
A lot of it pertained to his battles with alcohol and excessive partying, which he will soon dive into when Netflix releases its documentary on Manziel’s football career through their “Untold” series set for an Aug. 8 release.
In the trailer for the series, Manziel admitted that “I thought I played better the harder I partied” and also unveiled he went on a $5 million bender.
Jake Paul. Johnny Football. Hall of Shame. Swamp Kings.
You think you know these stories, but you don't. Netflix Sports Series UNTOLD Volume 3 returns August 1 pic.twitter.com/IR1RzJF3NO
— Netflix (@netflix) July 18, 2023
Two years ago, in an interview with the “Ya Never Know” podcast, Manziel admitted he felt that he lost the respect of some of his NFL teammates with the Browns, later admitting he felt bad for it all.
Did Manziel Only Play for the Browns?
Manziel was once perceived as a man with the potential to save the Browns franchise and even a sports city that has long endured heartbreak and controversy. He even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated following the 2014 NFL Draft with the headline “Johnny Better be Good, Because How Much More Suffering Can a City Take?”
Manziel, however, only started in eight NFL games and finished with a 2-6 overall record. His QB rating was 58.6 in 2015 — his last season in the league. Included in that season was Manziel being spotted in Las Vegas and not with his team for the last game of the regular season.
That was also the year he went into rehab for his alcoholism. The Browns eventually released him once the league’s 2016 fiscal year began.
Along with his bouts with alcohol, Manziel was investigated for an alleged domestic violence dispute and ultimately turned himself in to authorities in May 2016.
JUST IN: Johnny Manziel's mugshot has been releasedhttps://t.co/fbITLdJgBG pic.twitter.com/sl5dWG72l9
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) May 4, 2016
Manziel later shared with ESPN that he was suffering from Bipolar Disorder and that he had hoped to make a gridiron comeback.
Manziel did make the attempt to resume his professional football career in 2018 by heading to Canada. He ended up playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes. In February 2019, however, the CFL parted ways with Manziel after missing a number of mandatory meetings.
Manziel’s last two football stops were in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football (AAF) with the Memphis Express and was previously seen in the Fan Controlled Football league with the Zappers. Manziel, though, admitted to USA Today in February 2021 that he only joined the league out of boredom and wasn’t using it as a vehicle to get back to the pro game.
Now, he’ll soon add co-business owner to his résumé and place it in the city where he became beloved.