Former NFL QB Calls Out Steve Spurrier for Firing Shots at Arch Manning

As immense as his talent is, not everybody is fond of Manning shining in Texas. Longtime college football coach Steve Spurrier raised many eyebrows when discussing all the hype surrounding Manning. During a recent episode of his "Another Dooley Noted Podcast," he cast doubt on Manning's ability to take Texas to the promised land. 

“People picking Texas to win the SEC in football,” Spurrier stated, via his podcast. “They’ve got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman, too. And my question is, if he was this good, how come that they let Quinn Ewers play all the time last year? He was a seventh-round pick. 

During Friday's edition of ESPN's "Get Up," five-year NFL quarterback EJ Manuel clapped back at the coach, saying it was unfair to assess Manning's talents based on where and when Ewers was drafted. 

“Coach Spurrier, what are we talking about here man? I don’t think it correlates to say a player that gets drafted ahead of a new, incumbent starter is indicative of that new starter not being that good,” Manuel said. 

“I mean, when you look at the quarterback situation at Texas coming into the 2024 season, Quinn Ewers didn’t lose his job, he didn’t play bad enough to say, ‘Hey Arch, you’re going to now be our guy,’ considering in 2023 their lead, winning the Big 12, they make it to the CFP — that was all through the arm and the play of Quinn Ewers."

He added that perhaps the planning for Manning was always like this and he took the time to learn as much as he could before taking the field. 

“I understand Quinn Ewers went much later in the draft than I thought he would’ve went or should’ve, but I don’t think that’s indicative of saying Arch Manning is not as good of a player. 

"Let’s keep this in mind too, coaches have plans for quarterbacks. When you come in from high school, you know, Arch Manning probably came in with the level of like, ‘I’m going to be patient, I’m going to red-shirt, I’m going to learn as much football as I can.

"That’s a luxury that Texas has, because you already have a quarterback that can get you to that ultimate level, which is CFP berths and things like that so I was kind of shocked to hear Coach Spurrier say this."

Entering the 2025 season, Manning is the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy (+600), but he's already facing negative comments from big names in the game.