ABC just teased that an NFL player would be among those taking part in the upcoming “Dancing With the Stars” season devoted to athletes. Despite rumors, we can reveal that it won’t be Johnny Manziel. While his name had been among those in the mix, this one-time Cleveland Brown quarterback is in the middle of an NFL comeback.
In 2012, Manziel made history as the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy as the star player on Texas A&M Aggies. Two years later, he was the 22nd pick in the NFL draft and spent two seasons in Cleveland. Released by the team at the end of the 2015 season, he has since returned to school and is now hoping to make it onto the roster of another team.
Of the 66 athletes to have competed on “DWTS” over the years, a whopping 19 have been football players. Among these, four took home the mirror ball: Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith (season 3); Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward (season 12); Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver (season 14); and New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings (season 24).
SEE ‘Dancing With the Stars: Athletes’ – Everything you need to know about season 26 of ‘DWTS’
We will find out which gridiron great is set to be the next to trade his cleats for dancing shoes when ABC reveals the line-up for “DWTS” season 26 on “Good Morning America” on April 13. We do know that four Olympians are taking part. Two of these won medals at the recent Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea: figure skater Adam Rippon and snowboarder Jamie Anderson. A third, Jennie Finch, led the US women’s softball team to victory in the 2004 Summer Olympics and a second-place silver medal finish four years later. The last may not have won a medal but is the most (in)famous of this foursome: Tonya Harding.
PREDICT the Emmy nominees and winners now; change them until July 12
Be sure to make your Emmy predictions today so that Hollywood insiders can see how their TV shows and performers are faring in our odds. You can keep changing your predictions as often as you like until just before nominees are announced on July 12. And join in the fun debate over the 2018 Emmy taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our television forums. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
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