Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel ignited controversy Thursday by unleashing an expletive-laden and homophobic rant at ESPN Cleveland radio host Tony Rizzo. The outburst came more than a decade after Manziel's abrupt departure from the NFL following a tumultuous tenure with the Cleveland Browns.
Rizzo had criticized Manziel on his program for his continued animosity towards the Browns, referencing an October interview where Manziel stated he would "hate them forever" and hoped the team would go 0-16 every season. Rizzo questioned Manziel's persistent negativity towards the team that drafted him.
Manziel responded via a since-deleted post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. In his reply, Manziel attacked Rizzo and made disparaging remarks about current Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has faced numerous civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct.
Manziel's post included homophobic slurs and accused the Cleveland media of having "nothing to speak about" because Watson was not "banging massage therapists." Watson has settled 26 civil lawsuits and served an 11-game suspension related to the allegations.
The 33-year-old Manziel, who has spoken about past substance abuse issues and now claims sobriety, also defended his performance with the Browns, stating that "Tom Brady couldn't have won with our roster from 2015." He urged Rizzo to "move on" and leave him out of the discussion.
Manziel's remarks were met with swift criticism from fans and observers. Browns blogger Ernesto Cova wrote on X that Manziel's use of homophobic slurs undermined his claims of personal growth and accountability. Another critic noted that Manziel's use of "homos" as an insult in 2026 reflected a lack of awareness. Manziel last played professional football in the defunct Fan Controlled Football league in 2022.