On Thursday night, the NFL and ESPN got to experience what everyone has known for two years now, Johnny Manziel and his polarizing personality are good for business.
The Associated Press is reporting that the first round of the NFL Draft draft drew 9.9 million viewers to ESPN Thursday night, shattering the previous record for the event that the network has telecast since 1980.
The previous high was 7.3 million viewers in 2010.
The drama all night long focused on where the former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback would land. The fact that he was on the board until pick 22 made the drama even more compelling.
Viewership Thursday was 60 percent higher than last year’s 6.2 million.