Buffalo Bills: E.J. Manuel’s next chapter? Broadcasting
By Avery Duncan
Former Buffalo Bills first-round pick E.J. Manuel hung up the cleats this off-season, now, he’s joining the ACC Network as an analyst.
When the Buffalo Bills drafted quarterback E.J. Manuel at No. 16 overall in the 2013 NFL Draft, they didn’t quite envision that he’d have a broadcasting career at 29 years old. Yet, after signing with the Kansas City Chiefs and retiring just a few months later during the 2019 off-season, here we are. According to himself on Instagram, Manuel will join the ACC Network as an analyst for the upcoming college football season.
As a product of an ACC school (Florida State), Manuel will be a familiar face for the fans of the conference. In four seasons of play in college, he played 43 games and tallied 7,749 yards and 47 touchdowns through the air on a 66.9% completion rate. His senior season, in which he threw for 3,397 yards, and 23 touchdowns on a 68% completion rate sealed his fate to be a Buffalo Bill.
But, as you know, that success in college didn’t translate to the NFL. The QB started 10 games his rookie season and compiled 1,972 yards and an 11-9 TD-INT ratio through the air. In his second season, he was benched after an uninspiring 2-2 start. He then played out his contract and signed on to be Derek Carr‘s backup in Oakland; where he played the last snaps of his career.
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Though he had some good moments, most of the Manuel era is forgettable or is still trying to be forgotten. He didn’t have the NFL career that he hoped for, but he approached it with class and professionalism. Despite being put in a bad opportunity in Buffalo, Manuel thanked the team when he announced his retirement on Instagram.