What’s the secret sauce to a successful NFL career? Johnny Manziel thinks it might just be two key figures: Kliff Kingsbury and Jake Spavital. On the latest episode of Next Up with Adam Breneman, Manziel opened up about the coaches who shaped his football journey. “Two guys that had a huge impact on the way that my career turned out,” Manziel said about the duo. He credited them for their daily presence, which helped mold him into the player he became.
For context, Kingsbury was Patrick Mahomes‘s head coach at Texas Tech throughout his three years playing for the school (2014-16). Meanwhile, Manziel’s comments come with a surprising twist for Shedeur Sanders.
Johnny Manziel says @KliffKingsbury and @JakeSpavital were the coaches that had the biggest impact on his career.
“Two guys that had a huge impact on the way that my career turned out.”
— @JManziel2 on @NextUpWithAdam pic.twitter.com/EoX1R12FLh
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 3, 2025
Sanders has caught Cleveland’s eye as a potential No. 2 pick. While Shedeur has yet to make his decision, the weight of the Browns’ quarterback curse looms large. Manziel knows all too well how tough it can be to thrive in Cleveland’s chaotic environment. “Cleveland was definitely a place that was tough, especially coming in the quarterback position,” he admitted.
With that in mind, Manziel shared some valuable advice: “The amount of tape study and the amount of time these guys put in allows them to play at an unbelievably fast level.” That’s the kind of dedication Shedeur will need to succeed. But Cleveland’s distractions? Manziel wasn’t shy about those. “We would be walking in between our meetings, and also like our ticket sales and everything else from an organizational standpoint… was in the same building.” Sounds like Shedeur might want to consider a few things before joining the Browns.
This story is unfolding—stay locked in for the latest.
The post Heisman Winner Confirms Patrick Mahomes’ Ex-HC’s Impact on NFL Career Before Sharing Crucial Advice for Shedeur Sanders appeared first on EssentiallySports.