Ex-Browns Publicly Prays for Cleveland’s Downfall After Kevin Stefanski Cut Ties With QB

With all the optimism that follows the Cleveland Browns today, there is always the wrath of the past. With Kevin Stefanski in charge as head coach since 2020, the team has navigated 84 games with a 40–44 (.476) record. There have been three playoff seasons, but no titles yet. But while Stefanski talks of progress, one veteran voice from Cleveland’s history appears determined to prevent old wounds from ever healing. That never-ending grudge reminds us that, however high the Browns rise, the shadow of yesterday will never be completely silent.

Former first-round pick Johnny Manziel, who once was the Browns’ future face, admitted he does not root for the Browns. In an honest interview on the NightCap podcast with Shannon Sharpe, Manziel surprised listeners with the admission that his anger with the team has intensified each day. ”I sit here today and I go back and forth with, man, am I going to let Cleveland off the hook and just like let it go or am I going to sit here with hate and animosity in my heart for the rest of my life,” Manziel said. “And I finally sit here today, I’m like, f*** it. I think I’m going to be pissed that I’m going to hate them forever. So it is what it is, man. No love for the Browns. I am rooting for a 0 and 16 season every season.”

TRENDING: Former Cleveland first-round QB Johnny Manziel says that he roots for the #Browns to go winless every season.

“I root for a 0 and 16 season, every season.”

Manziel says that he will forever eat Cleveland.

(@NightcapShow_)
pic.twitter.com/K5kJwzgFQ5

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 1, 2025

The comment’s raw brashness struck a nerve. For some, it showed Manziel’s fury finally boiling over after a turbulent career. His hatred for the Browns isn’t new—since leaving in 2016, he’s repeatedly blamed them for not supporting him during his difficult college-to-NFL transition. Drafted 22nd overall in 2014, Cleveland hoped for energy, excitement, and wins. Instead, Manziel delivered inconsistency, off-field drama, and broken promises.

His Cleveland tenure was plagued by scandals—partying in Vegas while skipping team activities and a $12,000 fine for flipping off an opposing sideline. The 2016 domestic violence allegations from girlfriend Colleen Crowley led to an indictment and his Browns release. Manziel’s grudge has persisted against a fanbase that endured a winless 2017 season and decades of quarterback instability. An erstwhile first-round draft pick calling for eternal failure was like rubbing salt in an open wound.

After leaving the NFL, Manziel failed to revive his football career. He played for Hamilton and Montreal in the CFL before being released for violating league conditions. He then joined Memphis in the Alliance of American Football, but the league folded mid-season. His final stop was Fan Controlled Football, where fans called the plays.

As football talent waned, Manziel battled more severe demons. He spoke out in 2018 to disclose his bipolar disorder. He acknowledged that he needed to put mental health first. “There is no job without my mental health,” he stated.

Browns trim QB room

The Browns cut quarterback Tyler Huntley on Sunday, leaving Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders on the depth chart. Huntley was added after Pickett’s hamstring injury and finished preseason 10-of-13 for 71 yards, but there wasn’t room for a fifth quarterback. With Deshaun Watson on injured reserve with a torn Achilles, Stefanski must balance short-term stability with developing two rookie draft picks.

Joe Flacco is the unquestioned starter. Pickett was traded to the Raiders, making Gabriel the backup quarterback. That safety net may turn out to be essential in a division as merciless as the AFC North. Particularly with Cincinnati waiting in Week 1. Keeping Sanders on the roster is an indication that Cleveland is willing to allow the rookie to develop with the team.

Sanders suffered through a rough last performance against the Rams, taking five sacks and never establishing a rhythm. However, Gabriel provided glimpses by throwing a touchdown and playing under pressure with composure. Stefanski himself admitted the emotional aspect of roster cutting, labeling it as one of the “tough aspects of this business,” but he also stressed his contentment with the effort of the team going into September. With Flacco calling the shots and a seasoned blend of veterans and newcomers behind him. Cleveland is relying on experience and promise alike to move them into a critical season.

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