Johnny Manziel removes himself from Heisman Trophy ceremony until Reggie Bush gets award back

Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel has announced he will boycott the annual ceremony until a fellow former winner, Reggie Bush, has his trophy awarded back to him.

Bush is a superstar running back who played for USC and won the award as a member of the Trojans in the 2005 season. However, when the school was later punished for giving out improper benefits to recruits, including Bush himself, he was then forced to hand back his Heisman retroactively in 2010.

In August of 2023, news broke that Reggie Bush planned to file a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA, and as part of that motion, he asked for his Heisman trophy to be rightfully returned to him. Well, the NCAA has not given it back just yet, which has led to the out-cry of the award’s 2012 winner, Johnny Manziel.

He tweeted out Saturday morning that he’ll no longer be in attendance for the event until Bush has his trophy back:

“After careful thought and consideration I will be humbly removing myself from the Heisman trophy ceremony until Reggie Bush gets his trophy back. Doesn’t sit right with my morals and values that he can’t be on that stage with us every year. Reggie IS the Heisman trophy. Do the RIGHT thing NCAA the ball is in your court. Much love JM2.”

C’mon, NCAA. If you don’t reinstate Reggie Bush’s Heisman trophy by next December, then the 2024 winner won’t have the honor of sharing his special moment next to Johnny Manziel.

For more background on Bush’s attempts to get the trophy back, read below:

Bush’s lawsuit vs. the NCAA

On3 Staff Report

Bush’s lawsuit stems from a statement issued by an NCAA spokesperson from 2021 that said Bush was involved in a “pay-for-play arrangement.” Bonagura promised more details on the lawsuit to come.

Bush had since vacated his 2005 Heisman Trophy, among other awards. USC was also penalized after an NCAA infractions case found that Bush had received impermissible benefits. The program vacated two wins from the 2004 season and all of its wins from the 2005 season, which included a run to the BCS Championship Game.

The Trojans were also banned from multiple bowl games and were docked 30 scholarships over a three-year period.

In addition to vacating his Heisman Trophy, Bush was forced to vacate the Doak Walker Award and the Walter Camp Award in 2005.

Bush’s college career was certainly something to remember, vacated trophies and wins or not.

The former USC standout was absolutely electric, and his junior season was next level. Bush ran for 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior in 2005, while also catching 37 passes for 478 yards and two touchdowns. He was an elite return specialist, too, racking up 493 kick return yards and 179 punt return yards, as well as a touchdown.

In three years with the Trojans, Bush accounted for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns rushing, as well as 1,301 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He scored four times on returns.