Getty Image / Prince Williams
NFL quarterback Cam Newton will go down as one of the most memorable players of the 2010s in all of football, when his college and professional accomplishments are taken into account. But, despite only being 34-years-old, the former MVP has not played in an NFL game since the 2021 season.
Many wonder why Cam Newton isn’t on a roster somewhere, as there’s no way he’s not better than at least some of the league’s backups, even if he isn’t a starting-caliber quarterback anymore. But, the reason may be because the Carolina Panthers legend only wants to play for one team if he were to make a return.
Newton was on GMFB Tuesday, and was asked by former Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall what three teams he would come back to. His response to that question will surely surprise you.
“It’s not even three. It’s just really one. Me having, you know, a family now. It’s always been about family, and I don’t see myself leaving Atlanta. So if it’s not Atlanta, I don’t wanna do it,” Newton said.
Newton is an Atlanta native, and is raising his five children there. He’s expecting a sixth with girlfriend, Jasmine Brown.
Make no mistake, if it was the Cam Newton of a half-decade ago, he would be a perfect fit in Atlanta alongside a great offensive line and weapons like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. Plus, the team, who fired head coach Arthur Smith and has been rumored to be very interested in former Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick, does need a franchise quarterback, as it appears Desmond Ridder is not the guy.
But, no one is giving Cam Newton a surefire starting job right now. The last time he was handed the keys to a franchise at the beginning of a season was the 2020 New England Patriots, when he threw 8 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in fifteen starts. That’s not going to cut it, especially when it’s likely he’s declined as a runner due to age.
The last time he got any NFL playing time at all was in 2021, when he returned to the Carolina Panthers midseason. Cam Newton went 0-5 as a starter that year, throwing for 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
For his career, the 2010 Heisman Trophy and national championship winner at Auburn is 75-68-1 as a starter with 269 total touchdowns and 123 interceptions after being drafted first-overall by the Panthers in the 2011 NFL Draft.