Johnny Manziel is one of the most electric quarterbacks in college football history. The 2012 Heisman winner was once the most famous athlete in the country, but his well-documented off-field issues prevented him from finding success in the NFL.
Now 32 years old, Manziel has learned from his mistakes and is taking on a mentorship role with Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. Manziel recently shared how he’s advised Pavia to learn from past mistakes, especially after the young quarterback’s sacrifice to stay with the Commodores this season.
Johnny Manziel Offers Guidance to Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia
Manziel was special in college. He became the first freshman to win the Heisman while leading Texas A&M to standout seasons as the team’s quarterback in 2012 and 2013.
His success with the Aggies led to his selection in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. However, due to a lack of focus on his NFL career and an emphasis on drinking and partying, he only lasted two seasons in the league.
Manziel, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, has built a bond with Pavia since the quarterback transferred from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt ahead of the 2024 season. He recently shared that he has offered Pavia guidance to help him avoid making the same off-field mistakes that Manziel experienced.
NEW: Johnny Manziel is mentoring Vandy QB Diego Pavia, he tells @clowfb⚓️⬇️
“I’m like, ‘Learn from my mistakes, brother. Learn from Johnny. Don’t be Johnny off the field.’
…I beat them once. Diego’s got a chance to beat them twice. That’s the kind of shit they build statues… pic.twitter.com/8O27DCwUeK
— On3 (@On3sports) October 1, 2025
Manziel explained to On3 that while he wants Pavia to enjoy his time in college, the young quarterback needs to be “fearless on the field, but not off the field.” He also noted that he believes Pavia is taking his advice to heart.
“I’m like, ‘Learn from my mistakes, brother. Learn from Johnny. Don’t be Johnny off the field,'” Manziel said. “I had so much opportunity and so much shit and threw it away. Diego’s young and lit, and it’s easy in that position to get out of control. But I’m trying to give him the best advice I can. He’s listening. I think he is, so that’s a blessing.”
It’s sound advice coming from an unlikely source. Manziel got way over his head with partying during his playing days, ultimately derailing his career. Seeing him trying to help a young quarterback avoid the same mistakes is encouraging.
The advice carries even more weight considering Pavia’s sacrifice to play for Vanderbilt this season. In June, Pavia revealed that he turned down another school’s $4.5 million offer to remain with the Commodores.
If that figure is accurate, it shows that Pavia is focused on earning an NFL opportunity to make up for the money he passed on. He’ll need to avoid following in Manziel’s footsteps to succeed at that level.
This isn’t to suggest that Pavia has anything close to Manziel’s off-field issues. Still, it’s valuable for the Vanderbilt quarterback to have someone in his corner who can speak from experience and guide him in the right direction.
