Texas A&M fans mostly have positive memories of former Aggie quarterback Zach Calzada, in large part because of his heroic 2021 performance to lead A&M over no. 1 Alabama at Kyle Field— a defining moment in the last few years of Aggie football. Though things ended sourly for Calzada in College Station, it still hasn't sullied A&M fans' perception of him in large part.
A recent viral video from the erstwhile Aggie, however, is— to call a spade a spade— nothing short of an embarrassment. Calzada, now at Kentucky after stops at Auburn and Incarnate Word, has not played for UK since week two, as an injury caused his spot to be ceded to Cutter Boley, who has played well for Stoops's squad.
Apparently in response to some goading by a fan or online troll (presumably named "Garrett"), Calzada sent a video— seemingly directly, but it has now leaked onto the broader internet— taunting the fan by flashing huge amounts of hundred-dollar bills. This is the opposite of a good look for Calzada or the UK program, and they're both taking heat for it.
Embarrassing video of former Texas A&M QB Zach Calzada flexing NIL earnings goes viral
Here's the video in question, posted by a Kentucky fan account (mild language warning):
What a horrible look. Not only for Calzada but UK as a program in general. pic.twitter.com/JAukp3qx5r
— Bleed Blue Network (@BleedBNetwork) November 6, 2025
This is exactly the kind of thing that has a lot of fans pretty jaded about NIL earnings, as it's simply a terrible look to respond to random internet trolls in this way. That embarrassment is only compounded when you consider that Calzada has essentially lost his starting job to Boley at this point.
Kentucky QB Zach Calzada, responding to someone on social calling out his play … LOL at any college football fan wanting to donate to NIL. https://t.co/d40NTSSFIA
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) November 7, 2025
It doesn't even look like the comment was overly offensive or personal (relative to the usual internet invective, anyway), so such a disproportionate response is kind of puzzling from the Kentucky quarterback. You see some fans down in the comments saying they don't care about this kind of behavior, but the majority of fans were cringing at the clip.
I'm not sure what's next for Calzada— he's got NFL arm strength, but needs work in other areas— but this was a sure misstep. Hopefully, this was just a moment of weakness rather than a pattern, but I think, when all is said and done, he'd rather not have sent that video.