Kirby Smart Jokingly Calls Out Johnny Manziel When Reflecting on the Best QBs He’s Faced

Kirby Smart has faced plenty of elite quarterbacks during his coaching career, both as Alabama’s defensive coordinator and as Georgia’s head coach. But when asked to reflect on some of the toughest ones he’s had to game plan against, he couldn’t help but take a playful jab at one of the most electrifying college football players in recent memory—Johnny Manziel.

During a recent interview, Smart was discussing the best quarterbacks he’s ever coached against, and he humorously pointed out Manziel, the former Texas A&M superstar and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, in a way that only a seasoned defensive coach could.

“Oh, Johnny Football? Yeah, he was a real pain in the you-know-what,” Smart said with a grin. “We had a great game plan for him… until we didn’t.”

That statement instantly brought back memories of the now-iconic 2012 Alabama-Texas A&M matchup, where Manziel torched the Crimson Tide defense in a performance for the ages. It also reminded fans of how frustratingly difficult Manziel was to defend at his peak, even for some of the best defensive minds in college football.

Kirby Smart’s History with Elite Quarterbacks

Kirby Smart has been around the best of the best when it comes to quarterbacks, whether it’s game-planning against them or coaching them. As Alabama’s defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2015, Smart was tasked with stopping some of the greatest signal-callers in recent college football history. Since taking over at Georgia in 2016, he’s continued to square off against elite talent, with multiple CFP appearances and two national championships to his name.

So when Smart reflects on the best quarterbacks he’s ever had to prepare for, it’s a serious list—including names like Deshaun Watson, Joe Burrow, and Bryce Young. But it was Johnny Manziel who left a lasting impression, not just for his sheer talent, but for how unpredictable he was.

“Manziel was different,” Smart admitted. “A lot of guys are talented, a lot of guys can throw, a lot of guys can run. But Johnny? He was Houdini back there.”

Johnny Manziel’s 2012 Masterpiece Against Alabama

For many college football fans, the 2012 Alabama vs. Texas A&M game is the defining moment of Johnny Manziel’s career. Facing a No. 1-ranked Alabama team loaded with future NFL stars, Manziel put on one of the greatest individual performances in college football history.

He led Texas A&M to a shocking 29-24 victory in Tuscaloosa, throwing for 253 yards and two touchdowns while adding 92 rushing yards. But it wasn’t just the stats—it was how he did it.

On one now-legendary play, Manziel fumbled the ball, caught it mid-air, scrambled, and still managed to throw a perfect touchdown pass—leaving Alabama’s defense completely helpless. That moment summed up why even the best defensive minds in the country struggled to contain him.

Smart, who was Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator at the time, had spent weeks preparing for Manziel. But all the preparation in the world didn’t seem to matter.

“You think you’ve got the perfect play call, you think you’ve got him boxed in, and then—boom—he’s running 20 yards the other way,” Smart said. “We had some of the best athletes in the country on defense, and he made us look slow.”

Alabama would go on to win the national championship that year, but the Manziel game remained a blemish on an otherwise dominant season.

How Manziel Compares to Other QBs Smart Has Faced

While Smart gave credit to plenty of other quarterbacks, he made it clear that Johnny Manziel was uniquely challenging to coach against.

Over the years, Smart has gone up against some of the most dominant quarterbacks in college football:

• Deshaun Watson (Clemson, 2015-2016): Nearly led Clemson to a national title in 2015 before winning it all in 2016, delivering two unforgettable performances against Alabama.
• Joe Burrow (LSU, 2019): Put together arguably the greatest season in college football history, leading LSU to an undefeated national championship while carving up Georgia’s defense in the SEC title game.
• Cam Newton (Auburn, 2010): Before Smart was Alabama’s defensive coordinator, he was part of the staff that saw Newton lead Auburn to a comeback win in Tuscaloosa on the way to a Heisman and national title.
• Bryce Young (Alabama, 2021-2022): Gave Georgia’s defense fits in the 2021 SEC Championship Game before the Bulldogs got revenge in the National Championship.

All of those quarterbacks were elite in their own ways, but Manziel’s style of play made him one of the most unpredictable and difficult to prepare for.

“Some guys, you at least have an idea of what they’re going to do,” Smart explained. “With Manziel, you just hoped he got tired by the fourth quarter.”

Manziel’s Legacy and Smart’s Lasting Respect

Despite poking fun at Manziel, Smart also showed his respect for what he accomplished.

“People forget how good he really was,” Smart said. “I mean, you don’t just waltz into Tuscaloosa and beat us unless you’ve got something special. He was special.”

While Johnny Manziel’s college career was electric, his NFL journey didn’t pan out the same way. However, his impact on college football remains undeniable. He redefined the quarterback position in the SEC and forced defensive minds like Kirby Smart to rethink how to defend dual-threat playmakers.

And even years later, with national championships and multiple College Football Playoff appearances under his belt, Kirby Smart still remembers the night he had to watch “Johnny Football” run wild.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy cause more chaos on a football field,” Smart admitted. “And trust me, I’ve seen some good ones.”

While Manziel may not have had the longevity of some other legendary quarterbacks, his ability to torment defenses—even ones coached by some of the greatest minds in football—cements his place as one of the most unforgettable players of his era. And for Kirby Smart, it’s a name he won’t forget anytime soon.