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In a little over five years in the spotlight (eight if you live in South Texas), Johnny Manziel has been a lot of things to a lot of people. His portfolio of highs and lows is as diverse at it is well-documented in today’s social media age.
Johnny is one of the most exciting college football players of all-time and the first freshman to win the Heisman. He’s also an NFL first round washout, notorious off-field partying pariah, recovering (maybe?) addict, and all-around origin of many a hot take.
I loved watching Johnny play football and gladly started his comeback train when he hopped back on the wagon earlier this year. For a guy who’s not quite yet 25 years old, he’s certainly left a multitude of headliners for his final legacy. Hopefully in twenty years we can call Johnny a comeback story in some form or fashion, but even that might not be what he’s best remembered for in the end. Same with Heisman Trophy-winning QB, or for being “lost in the sauce.” No, Johnny Manziel’s lasting legacy likely lies with a cheap plastic floating swan:
That Instagram picture you’ve seen every model, every girl you went to college with, and every one of your drunk fat friends named Brad post all started with Johnny Football swigging champagne in Vegas. Back when it was still fun as opposed to sad when he was out getting blitzed publicly this picture lit the internet on fire and started the swan float craze that is three years strong and counting. I saw a similar picture a few days ago and pondered the incredible marketing pull of one former college football player on one float.
what Johnny Manziel did for the swan pool float market never ceases to amaze me
— Kyle Bandujo (@kylebandujo) November 30, 2017
You don’t see Johnny Football t-shirts anymore, and outside of College Station, TX the #2 Texas A&M jersey isn’t quite as prevalent as it once was. But if you bought swan float stock in 2014 that shit has quadrupled in value and isn’t slowing down anytime soon. This man last threw a pass nearly two years ago and yet 500 of the swan float pictures were posted yesterday by people still riding that Johnny wave. Some might say Taylor Swift gave the swan a boost back in ’16, but it’s undeniable that Johnny was the spark that started the fire during his swan cruise.
Since JFF hopped on a swan, anyone who’s anyone has gotten in on the action. Of course Kendall Jenner had to follow in Johnny’s footsteps.
A post shared by Kendall (@kendalljenner) on
Instagram model Abigail Ratchford paid some homage to JFF just under two months ago.
And we’ll all float on okayyy 🍍 pic.twitter.com/Ej5fk94CBH
— Abigail Ratchford (@AbiRatchford) October 21, 2017
Johnny may have lost every endorsement he’s ever had, but it hasn’t stopped these guys from using his famous image to sling floats:
Summer might almost be over, but you can grab this Mega Swan like Johnny Manziel for $7.74!https://t.co/guCYjOR2Ol pic.twitter.com/cDsI023Pcx
— Fat Kid Deals (@FatKidDeals) September 10, 2017
Just browse your Instagram feed in the summer months and you’ll see continuous tributes to Johnny via the classic swan float picture. The only thing America can agree on in 2017 is that for three years and counting, a swan has been the hottest pool and picture accessory, and we’ve really got Johnny Manziel to thank for that.
I’m eternally hopeful that Manziel will make a comeback that we can all be proud of. Maybe the NFL ship has sailed away like a swan in a Vegas pool, but a Canadian League title, or even just a successful image rehab parlayed into a studio analyst gig and some quality commercials would be great to see at this point. One day, they might even welcome him back into some Nissan Heisman House spots.
Regardless, whatever comes of Johnny, we’ll always have that Heisman season and everything that followed it to remember him by. Some of that stuff may fade, but his ultimate legacy-making moment of going full extension with some champagne on that pool float will forever touch our social media feeds and reach the entire nation. Even DCO nation. .
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Kyle Bandujo
The artist formerly known as Crash Davis. My kid doesn't think I'm funny.
@kylebandujo
@bandujokyle
kyle.bandit
@dcruff on Instagram.
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I think his greatest legacy is his questionable hand tattoos
I always tell people this, but I can’t wait for the 30 for 30 about him.
Initially read this as “hand tacos.” …I should go grab lunch.
“Yeah I went to rehab. Hurt my nose”