Johnny Manziel is now part of the growing conversation surrounding the viral Texas A&M tunnel incident—but his comments are drawing their own wave of criticism.
The former Aggies quarterback publicly defended the Texas state trooper who confronted South Carolina’s Nyck Harbor during a game. This moment had already led to widespread backlash and sparked calls for disciplinary action from figures including LeBron James.
Manziel addressed the clip on Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco, offering a position that contrasted sharply with the broader response.
“He breaks off that long touchdown. Around here in these parts, partner, we protect this house,” he said while recounting the interaction. “We paid a lot of money for this house. Get out of my tunnel, boy. Get back on the field. So he gave him a little something. Let him know what’s up.”
The remark immediately raised questions, not only because Manziel defended the officer’s actions, but because he referred to Harbor—an adult Division I athlete and legal adult—as “boy,” a term with a documented racial history when applied to Black men.
Harbor, who is Black, was seen in the widely circulated video walking into the tunnel after scoring an 80-yard touchdown. The footage shows the trooper bumping into Harbor and teammate Oscar Adaway III before turning and pointing at them in what appeared to be a reprimand.
The video spread quickly across social media, and the reaction was swift. Many condemned the officer’s conduct, including former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson, who called the moment “trash” and questioned why a law enforcement officer assigned to a sporting event would shove players. Texas A&M officials later confirmed that the trooper was sent home from the game.
James called for immediate suspension. “That A&M cop needs to [be] suspended!” he wrote on X. “That was premeditated and corny AF!! He went out his way to start some sh-t. Do better man.”
While Manziel’s comments stand out for their tone and framing, he also suggested that the cop’s behavior does not reflect Texas A&M fans as a whole. “You don’t see it from Aggies,” he said, adding that the trooper “obviously feels bad” and that being recorded means the moment “gets blasted everywhere.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety has confirmed that the Office of Inspector General is reviewing the incident. “The DPS Trooper involved was sent home from the game,” the agency said in a statement posted to its official X account. “Our Office of Inspector General (OIG) is also aware of the incident and will be further looking into the matter.”