Alright, so Halloween’s coming up, and this year I decided to go all out and do a Johnny Manziel costume. Yeah, I know, a bit dated, but I always thought his story was wild, and the costume’s actually pretty simple.
First things first, I hit up my local thrift store. I needed a Cleveland Browns jersey. Any number would do, honestly, since it’s more about the vibe than being super accurate. Scored one for like, 15 bucks. It was a bit big, but hey, that’s part of the look, right?
Next up: the hair. Manziel had that messy, kinda-trying-but-not-really thing going on. My hair’s already naturally a bit of a mess, so I just needed some product to get it right. Found some cheap gel at the drugstore and messed with it until it looked suitably chaotic. Think “just rolled out of bed but about to throw a touchdown.”
Then came the accessories. This is where you really sell it. I grabbed a pair of sunglasses, the kind you’d see on a beach in Cabo. Borrowed a gold chain from my buddy – gotta have that “Johnny Football” swagger. And, of course, a fake foam brick. Because, you know…the whole throwing-bricks thing.
Putting it all together was pretty straightforward. Jersey on, hair gelled, sunglasses perched, chain around the neck, brick in hand. I even scuffed up the jersey a bit to give it that “been-through-some-stuff” vibe. Maybe a little too much, but whatever.
The reaction? Mixed, honestly. Some people got it immediately and thought it was hilarious. Others were like, “Who are you supposed to be?” I had to explain it a few times, but once they understood, they usually laughed. One guy even asked for a picture with me, which was kinda cool.
Overall, it was a fun costume. Not too complicated, pretty recognizable (if you know your football history), and definitely got some laughs. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next year, I’m thinking something a little more…current. Still, good times and a decent tribute to a legend, in his own weird way.
Things I learned:
- Thrift stores are your best friend for cheap costumes.
- Hair gel can work miracles.
- Not everyone knows who Johnny Manziel is anymore.
- Carrying a foam brick around all night gets old fast.
Would I recommend it? If you’re a football fan with a sense of humor, absolutely. Just be prepared to explain it a few times.
