Around The SEC: Former Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel Reveals He Attempted Suicide During NFL Career
A documentary about former Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, titled Johnny Football, is set to be released on Netflix this Tuesday, and details from it have emerged regarding Manziel's mental health.
In the documentary, Manziel revealed that shortly after the Cleveland Browns released him in the Spring of 2016, Manziel became suicidal. He purchased a gun and went on a “$5 million bender,” where he said he spent large amounts of money before wanting taking his own life.
In an interview with USA Today, who had early access to the documentary, Manziel went in to further details about his mental health state following his release from the Browns organization.
“I had planned to do everything I wanted to do at that point in my life, spend as much money as I possibly could and then my plan was to take my life,” Manziel said. “I wanted to get as bad as humanly possible where it made sense and it made it seem like an excuse and an out for me.”
The Heisman Trophy winner said that when it finally came time to pull the trigger and take his own life, the gun malfunctioned.
“Still to this day, don’t know what happened, but the gun just clicked on me," Manziel said. "I couldn’t fix what I had done with ... the NFL, with [Texas] A&M, everything. At that point in time I didn't have that much of a relationship with my family. The ride was over.”
After his suicide attempt, Manziel traveled to Los Angeles to be with his family. After his NFL days, Manziel spent time in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Alliance of American Football (AAF). Manziel, now age 30, currently serves as the quarterback of the FCF Zappers of the Fan Controlled Football League
The documentary on Manziel's life and career, Johnny Football, is scheduled for release on August 8. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988.
