A grand jury in Dallas, Texas, has indicted former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel on a domestic violence charge after police said he was suspected of hitting his former girlfriend, court documents have revealed.
The grand jury met last week to consider an indictment against Manziel, 23, who could face up to one year in jail if convicted.
The charge against Manziel, whose professional career has been overshadowed by his party lifestyle, stems from a January incident in which he is accused of hitting, kidnapping and threatening to kill Colleen Crowley, 23.
She accused Manziel of hitting her so hard that she temporarily lost her hearing, court papers show.
The indictment for a class-A misdemeanour charged Manziel with hitting Crowley and forcing her into a car.
Manziel, who became known as "Johnny Football" while winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012 as the best player in college football, was taken by the Browns in the first round of the National Football League draft after leaving Texas A&M University.
Cleveland cut him in March after two years of erratic play on the field and an off-the-field lifestyle that led to a trip to a rehabilitation centre after his first season.
He has been dropped by two agents this year and was reportedly blamed for more than $US30,000 ($A38,900) worth of damage at a Los Angeles home during a party this month.
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