Former National Football League quarterback Johnny Manziel has opened up about his struggles with drug use and a suicide attempt in a new documentary. In Netflix’s upcoming film Untold: Johnny Football, Manziel revealed that he began using OxyContin and cocaine daily following the 2015 season, which resulted in a drastic weight loss. The downward spiral continued with poor performance on the football field and legal troubles, including an assault charge against his former girlfriend. Eventually, the Cleveland Browns released Manziel, and he was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
In the documentary, Manziel admitted to refusing rehab and engaging in self-destructive behavior, which included going on a $5 million bender before his suicide attempt. He had planned to take his own life but was unable to do so when the gun he purchased malfunctioned. Despite the challenges, Manziel’s father expressed optimism about his son’s future and the possibility of rebuilding their relationship.
Johnny Manziel was a first-round draft pick in the 2014 NFL Draft but struggled to find success in the league. Following his release from the Browns, he had stints playing for teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL), the now-defunct Alliance of American Football (AAF), and most recently in the Fan Controlled Football league.
The Netflix documentary Untold: Johnny Football is scheduled to be released on Tuesday.
