It’s the kind of pairing that makes sense only in the strange, neon-lit ecosystem of American celebrity. You have Johnny Manziel, the "Johnny Football" of Texas A&M legend who became a cautionary tale of NFL flameouts, and Josie Canseco, a Victoria’s Secret model who grew up in the shadow of her father’s (Jose Canseco) steroid-era baseball fame. When they first started popping up on each other's Instagram stories in early 2024, it felt like a collision of two very specific kinds of chaotic energy.
Honestly, people were skeptical. Manziel has a track record that includes a rocky marriage to Bre Tiesi and a very public battle with his own demons, while Josie has been linked to everyone from Logan Paul to Brody Jenner. But for a few months there, it really looked like they had found a rhythm that worked.
The Timeline of a "Stagecoach" Romance
The rumors basically caught fire in April 2024. It started with a cryptic photo on a plane—just some hand tattoos that fans immediately recognized as Johnny’s. Then came the "hard launch." They showed up at the Stagecoach Music Festival, looking every bit the power couple. It wasn't just a casual hang; they were all over each other's social media, sharing kisses and looking genuinely happy in the California sun.
By the summer, Josie was talking about him in interviews. She told Us Weekly in July 2024 that she was getting the "princess treatment."
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"He takes such good care of me. I couldn’t have asked for any better right now."
It was a far cry from the narrative people had of Johnny Manziel. He was playing the role of the supportive boyfriend, often acting as her personal photographer for her modeling shoots. In September 2024, they were the talk of New York Fashion Week. While his former NFL peers were gearing up for the season opener, Johnny was hitting up the Alexander Wang show with Josie. They were giving off serious Justin and Hailey Bieber vibes—him in a casual hoodie and jeans, her in high-fashion bomber jackets and boots.
Why It Ended Right Before Valentine’s Day
Everything seemed fine as 2025 kicked off. They took a romantic trip to Aspen in January, posting photos of themselves cozying up in the snow and even a somewhat controversial (now deleted) video of them in a bathtub for Johnny’s 32nd birthday. But by February 13, 2025, the news broke: it was over.
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The timing was brutal. Breaking up the day before Valentine’s Day is a classic celebrity move, but the reasons cited were surprisingly mature. Sources close to the couple told TMZ that Josie was the one who ended things. It wasn't because of a massive blow-up or cheating. Apparently, Johnny was a "great boyfriend," but he still had "work to do on himself."
It’s a sentiment anyone who watched his Netflix documentary, Untold: Johnny Football, can probably understand. Manziel has been very open about his struggles with bipolar disorder and the pressure of his early fame. It seems that even with a supportive partner like Josie, some internal hurdles were just too high to clear while maintaining a high-profile relationship.
Life After the Split
They did the usual digital "scrubbing." They unfollowed each other on Instagram. They deleted the PDA-filled posts. However, they didn't hide from each other. Just days after the breakup was announced, they both showed up at Travis Scott’s celebrity softball game in Houston. Witnesses said there was no "bad blood." They were seen smiling and chatting, proving that you can actually end a relationship without it turning into a tabloid war.
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Since then, both have moved on. By July 2025, rumors began circulating that Josie had found love again in the sports world, specifically with Atlanta Braves pitcher A.J. Smith-Shawver. She eventually confirmed this with an Instagram post of them together. Manziel, meanwhile, seems to be leaning back into his podcasting and various business ventures, keeping his romantic life a bit more "low-key" than it was during the Josie era.
What This Says About Modern Celebrity Relationships
The Josie Canseco and Johnny Manziel saga is a perfect case study in how social media defines—and then erases—our perception of a couple.
- The Power of the Launch: Stagecoach has become the unofficial venue for celebrity relationship reveals.
- The Digital Erasure: The speed at which a year-long relationship is deleted from an Instagram grid is dizzying.
- The "Work on Self" Narrative: It’s becoming the standard, respectful way to end things in the public eye without inviting deeper scrutiny.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Observers
If you're following these two, keep an eye on their upcoming projects rather than just their "follows" list. Johnny's podcast, Glory Daze, often provides the most direct insight into his mental state and his view of his past relationships. For Josie, her career continues to pivot toward high-fashion editorial work, often independent of whoever she is dating.
Next steps for staying updated:
- Check Johnny Manziel’s podcast for any retrospective comments on his 2024 "growth" phase.
- Follow Josie’s editorial work via her agency pages rather than just her personal feed for a clearer view of her professional trajectory.
- Watch the 2026 celebrity event circuits—these two move in the same circles and will likely continue to cross paths at events like the Cactus Jack Foundation games.