Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel was forced into a dramatic, last-minute withdrawal from his scheduled appearance on ESPN's flagship college football programme, College GameDay, after being struck down by a severe illness.
A Mysterious Last-Minute Replacement
The mystery unfolded live on air on Saturday morning from College Station, Texas. Moments before the former Texas A&M quarterback was due to appear as the guest picker ahead of the Aggies' playoff clash with the Miami Hurricanes, host Rece Davis announced a change of plans. Alex Caruso, a former Texas A&M basketball star and two-time NBA champion, would be stepping in instead.
Fans were immediately puzzled by the switch, given Manziel had been publicly visible at the Kaseya Center in Miami just the night before. He was in attendance for the high-profile boxing match between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua, which concluded around midnight ET on Friday.
The Real Reason: A Sudden Bout of Norovirus
The Daily Mail can now reveal that Manziel's absence was due to a sudden and acute medical issue. A representative for the 33-year-old confirmed he was "medically unable to travel due to illness" from Miami back to Texas.
The Aggies icon contracted norovirus earlier in the week while spending time with family. His condition deteriorated sharply late on Friday night. "While en route to the airport, his condition worsened, and following medical advice, he and his team made the decision to turn back," a spokesperson stated.
Manziel remained in Miami to receive treatment and recover. His team worked swiftly to facilitate the seamless transition to Alex Caruso for both ESPN and Bleacher Report, for whom Manziel was also scheduled to appear at 10am from Kyle Field.
Manziel's Apology and Ongoing Recovery
On Sunday morning, Manziel took to his Instagram story to address the disappointed Aggies fanbase and explain the situation. "There is almost nothing on this earth that would have made me miss that game," he wrote, apologising to ESPN, the College GameDay crew, and Texas A&M supporters.
He expressed frustration at false narratives, stating, "I will continue to let everyone out there run with a fake narrative and at the end of the day perception always wins over reality." Manziel rated his current condition at a "3/10" and confirmed he is focusing on rest and recovery to return to normal.
Even without the illness, Manziel faced an extremely tight turnaround to travel from South Florida to Texas for the 9am ET broadcast, following the late-night boxing event. This was set to be his second appearance as a College GameDay guest picker in 2024, having also featured before the Aggies' season opener against Notre Dame in August.
The former Cleveland Browns draft pick, whose NFL career was marred by off-field controversies, has since rebuilt his life as a business owner and podcast host, often reflecting on his past.
