At the start of the month, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a two-year state budget that included funds for a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns.
DeWine originally planned to use tax revenue from sports betting to help fund the project, but the legislature instead opted to draw from the state’s nearly $5 billion in unclaimed funds.
Here’s where things get interesting: multiple Browns players technically have unclaimed money that could end up helping fund the new stadium.
Both Johnny Manziel and Myles Garrett are listed as having unclaimed funds that could, in theory, go toward the Browns’ stadium project.
In one of the more bizarre twists in recent memory, both Manziel and Garrett have unclaimed funds exceeding $100 that have yet to be claimed. The Browns are set to receive $600 million from the state toward their proposed $2.4 billion domed stadium, which would move them off the lakefront and into a new home in Brook Park.
Looks like Johnny Manziel has unclaimed funds from the NFLPA that will be going to the Browns new stadium. pic.twitter.com/DjT3u1IUOc
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) July 17, 2025
Myles too pic.twitter.com/4m8NBoSP8e
— Ryan Kaminski (@KaminskiRyan) July 17, 2025
You can even check for yourself using a simple name search here.
Manziel spent part of two seasons with the Browns after being selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. He started eight of the 14 games he played for Cleveland before exiting the league.
Garrett, on the other hand, just secured a massive payday this offseason, averaging $40 million per year. His new deal ties him to Cleveland long enough to be part of the team when the new stadium opens, following the expiration of the current lease after the 2028 NFL season.
To get the funding, Cleveland had to clear several hurdles, including a change to the Art Modell Law. And now, in an oddly weird twist, a former and a current Browns player could—at least technically—be helping to fund the team’s new home.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!