EJ Manuel
As the first quarterback taken in the 2013 NFL Draft, his career became a case study in the immense pressure and fleeting nature of opportunity at the sport's most scrutinized position.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American football player·Birthday: March 19·Millennials
Biography
EJ Manuel's narrative is etched in draft history, for better and worse. The Florida State quarterback, with his prototypical size and arm strength, led the Seminoles to an ACC championship and an Orange Bowl victory, projecting the poise of a franchise cornerstone. When the Buffalo Bills selected him 16th overall in 2013, he became the only quarterback taken in the first round of that draft—a fact that would define his professional journey. Injuries and inconsistency disrupted his early starts, and he soon found himself in a cycle of competition and backup roles across several teams. While his on-field tenure didn't meet the weight of that draft-day expectation, Manuel's career offers a clear-eyed view of the NFL's quarterback carousel, where physical tools are just one part of an unforgiving equation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
EJ was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When EJ Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
EJ's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led Florida State to a 12-2 record, an ACC championship, and a victory in the 2012 Orange Bowl as the starting quarterback.
- Selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
- Started and won his first two NFL games, including a season-opening victory against the New England Patriots in 2013.
Did You Know?
He was a standout high school basketball player in Virginia and received some college recruiting interest for the sport.
Manuel earned his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School while still an active NFL player.
He served as a backup quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, starting one game in 2017 where he threw for over 300 yards.
His full name is Erik Rodriguez Manuel Jr.
“You prepare your whole life for that moment, and then you have to write your own story.”
