Johnny Manziel Says He’s Open To Coaching Career If He Doesn’t Return To NFL

Free agent QB Johnny Manziel mentioned in an interview with Clay Travis of Outkick the Coverage that he could be open to coaching at some point if he’s unable to return to the NFL.

“I’d do something involved with sports. I can’t get away from it,” Manziel said. “I’ve had to ask myself that a little bit as of late over the past year, but at the same time I’d want to be involved in sports in some way, whether it’s coaching, whether it’s doing something like that. So I think that’d be my route.”

There hasn’t been a lot of reported interest in Manziel since the offseason got underway several months ago.

Manziel did say a month ago that he’s had a “couple conversations” with NFL teams about the possibility of continuing his career.

However, Mike Freeman spoke with two NFL officials who have said that it was actually Manziel’s representatives who contacted teams about a return, not the other way around.

According to Freeman, there’s still “little interest” in Manziel across the NFL right now, but that there at least some personnel men who remain fascinated with Manziel. Freeman says that some feel they can still fix Manziel after watching his college tape.

In fact, sources tell Freeman that wouldn’t be a complete shock to see a team bring Manziel in for a look during training camp.

Manziel recently said he’s aware of the situation he’s put himself in and he’s still hopeful of getting another shot.

“I know the situation that I put myself in. I know the year I took off and obviously the mistakes that I made. Right now, I’m hopeful. I’m really hopeful,” Manziel said, per Machota. “I think that I made some progress in that regard. But we’ll see. Whenever I get a call, I’ll do whatever I can to make the most of it.”

Manziel added that being away from the game this long has really shown him how much he misses it.

“I think the thing I realized over the past year and the thing I realized from being away from it is really how much you miss it,” Manziel said. “That’s all I’ve known for so long. It’s what I love to do. It’s hard. It’s hard sitting here going through OTA time and going through summer time and then getting ready to go through fall camp and not being part of it. But at the same time, I’m really optimistic and hopeful that I’ll get another chance. That’s really what I’m holding out for every day.”

Ian Rapoport reported back in March that Manziel was drawing “real interest” from teams after he re-hired Erik Burkhardt as his agent. However, this is the first update about Manziel since then.

Manziel received a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on recreational drug and wound up sitting out the entire 2016 season to focus on a return this year.

Manziel, 24, is a former first-round pick of the Browns back in 2014. He was in the second year of his four-year, $8,247,250 rookie contract when the Browns cut him loose at the start of the 2016 league year.

In 2015, Manziel appeared in nine games and thrown for 1,500 yards while completing 57.8 percent of his passes to go along with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Manziel also ran for 230 yards. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 31 quarterback out of 36 qualifying players that year.

We’ll have more regarding Manziel as the news is available.