Johnny Manziel recently announced his decision to abstain from attending future Heisman Trophy ceremonies, citing his strong belief in protesting what he perceives as an injustice. Through a series of social media posts, Manziel expressed his intention to boycott the Heisman ceremony until Reggie Bush’s trophy is reinstated and returned to him. As the 2012 Heisman winner, Manziel expressed discomfort with the fact that Bush is unable to join them on the prestigious stage each year, stating that it goes against his personal morals and values. In a subsequent post, Manziel reaffirmed his stance, emphasizing that no amount of money could sway him to reverse his decision, highlighting the inspirational impact of Bush’s performance.
For some time now, the status of Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy has been a contentious issue. The 2005 recipient was compelled to return his Heisman in 2010 following an investigation that revealed he had received improper benefits during the 2005 season. However, Bush’s mandated period of disassociation concluded in 2020, and with the recent changes to NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rules, there has been a growing chorus of voices urging the NCAA to reinstate Bush’s records and honors. Despite these calls, the NCAA has maintained its stance of not reevaluating previous penalties, even in light of the rule changes implemented since those penalties were imposed.
As a former Heisman winner himself, Johnny Manziel is both invited to attend the annual ceremony and serves as a voter. However, at present, Manziel has no intentions of accepting that invitation in the foreseeable future. It is difficult to envision the NCAA regarding Manziel as a credible figure to weigh in on this matter, given their perspective.
