What NIL would have meant for Johnny Manziel’s legacy

The moment that former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel stepped on the gridiron, all eyes instantly gravitated toward him.

His spectacular acts of magic created moments that will be remembered forever, highlights that gained millions of views and etched his name into history. Manziel rejuvenated Aggieland into one of the top programs in just two years at the helm, becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy.

It was not all sunshine and rainbows for Manziel and the Aggies, however. Shortly after winning the Heisman, the NCAA investigated him for signing autographs for his name, image and likeness. From that moment, “Money Manziel” was born.

Manziel’s success at Texas A&M was well known, even before NIL became widely accepted by the NCAA and the powers of the college football world.

That sparks the question: What if Manziel played for Texas A&M during the NIL era?

Million Dollar Manziel

For starters, Manziel would have made millions. According to official reports from the New York Post, Duke quarterback Darian Mensah’s two-year deal will bring in $8 million, making him the unofficial highest-paid player in college football history heading into the 2025 campaign.

Players around the country are racking up million-dollar deals for their name, image, and likeness, while Manziel was punished for capitalizing on his. There’s no sugar-coating how much money he would have made during this era of college football. Between his performance on the field and popularity on social media, there would be no limit to his potential endorsements. His autographs alone brought in approximately $30,000, and who knows how much more he was offered that he likely had to turn down at the time.

As simple as this statement seems, it makes you take a step back and realize the importance of Manziel’s contributions to Texas A&M. During a time…

Source link : https://aggieswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/aggies/football/2025/06/29/texas-aggies-johnny-manziel-legacy-nil-college-football-sec-ncaa/84408406007/

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Publish date : 2025-06-29 21:00:00

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