Cam Newton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cam Newton

Newton with the Carolina Panthers in 2021
No. 1
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1989-05-11) May 11, 1989 (age 36) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:	Westlake (Atlanta)
College:	Florida (2007–2008) Blinn (2009) Auburn (2010)
NFL Draft:	2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Career history
Carolina Panthers (2011) New England Patriots (2020) Carolina Panthers (2021)
Career highlights and awards
NFL Most Valuable Player (2015) NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2015) NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2011) First-team All-Pro (2015) 3× Pro Bowl (2011, 2013, 2015) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2011) Bert Bell Award (2015) 2× BCS national champion (2008, 2010) NJCAA national champion (2009) Heisman Trophy (2010) Maxwell Award (2010) Walter Camp Award (2010) Manning Award (2010) Davey O'Brien Award (2010) AP College Football Player of the Year (2010) SN College Player of the Year (2010) Chic Harley Award (2010) Consensus All-American (2010) SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2010) First-team All-SEC (2010) NFL record Most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback: 75
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts: 4,474 Passing completions: 2,682 Completion percentage: 59.9% TD–INT: 194–123 Passing yards: 32,382 Passer rating: 85.2 Rushing yards: 5,628 Rushing touchdowns: 75
Player stats at PFR

Cameron Jerrell Newton (born May 11, 1989) is an American former professional football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He is known for his time with the Carolina Panthers. Cam Newton holds the NFL record for most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. He is also third in career rushing yards for a quarterback.

Newton played college football for the Auburn Tigers. As a junior, he won the Heisman Trophy and the 2011 BCS National Championship Game. The Panthers picked him first overall in the 2011 NFL draft. He holds many Panthers records, including for passing yards and rushing touchdowns.

In his first NFL season, Newton made a big splash. He set rookie records for passing and rushing yards by a quarterback. This earned him the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He was the first rookie quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards. He also set a single-season record for quarterback rushing touchdowns.

From 2013 to 2017, Newton led the Panthers to four playoff appearances. They also won three division titles. His best season was in 2015. He was named the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP). He helped Carolina achieve a fantastic 15–1 record. This led them to Super Bowl 50. He was the first Black quarterback to win the NFL MVP award on his own.

After his MVP season, Newton faced injuries. He only reached the playoffs once in the next four years. He was released by the Panthers before his 10th season. He then played for the New England Patriots in 2020. Newton returned to the Panthers for his final season in 2021.

Early Life and College

Newton was born in Atlanta on May 11, 1989. His father, Cecil Newton Sr., was a safety in the NFL. His older brother, Cecil Newton, also played in the NFL as a center. His youngest brother, Caylin, was a college quarterback.

Cam was a talented baseball and basketball player when he was young. But he stopped playing both sports in his teens. In 2015, he earned a degree in sociology from Auburn University.

Newton went to Westlake High School in Atlanta. He played for their high school football team. As a junior, he threw for 2,500 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also ran for 638 yards and nine touchdowns. He was a top recruit and chose to attend the University of Florida.

University of Florida

Newton, far left, with Dan Mullen, John Brantley, Tim Tebow, and Bryan Waggener during his freshman season at Florida

Newton first went to the University of Florida. He played for the Florida Gators football team in 2007 and 2008. As a freshman, he was the backup to Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. He played in five games, passing for 40 yards and rushing for 103 yards and three touchdowns. In 2008, he played in one game but got an ankle injury. He then took a medical redshirt season.

In November 2008, Newton faced some trouble. He was accused of stealing a laptop. He was suspended from the team. All charges were later dropped after he completed a program. Newton said, "I believe that a person should not be thought of as a bad person because of some senseless mistake that they made. I think every person should have a second chance." He left Florida before their national championship win. He also had some academic issues before transferring.

Blinn College

In January 2009, Newton transferred to Blinn College in Texas. He led his team to the 2009 NJCAA National Football Championship. He threw for 2,833 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also rushed for 655 yards. He was named a Juco All-American. Newton was the most sought-after junior college quarterback. He decided to sign with the Auburn Tigers.

Auburn University

Coach Gus Malzahn quickly saw Newton's talent at Auburn. Newton won the starting quarterback job. Malzahn helped him improve his throwing skills. Newton became a true dual-threat quarterback. He learned Malzahn's offense well.

Newton started Auburn's 2010 season with a win. He had 186 passing yards, 171 rushing yards, and five total touchdowns. He was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Later, he had another great game against South Carolina. He threw for 158 yards and ran for 176 yards, scoring five total touchdowns.

Newton (top) warming up prior to the 2010 Iron Bowl

On October 23, Newton led Auburn to a win over LSU. He rushed for a season-high 217 yards. This gave him over 1,000 rushing yards for the season. He broke the SEC record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He also broke Auburn's school record for most touchdowns in a single season. This play was called Newton's "Heisman moment." Auburn became the No. 1 team in the BCS rankings. Newton was the favorite to win the Heisman.

Newton led Auburn to a 28–27 comeback victory over Alabama in the Iron Bowl. They were down 24–0. This was the biggest comeback in Auburn history. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.

Newton led Auburn back from a 24-point deficit to defeat rival Alabama

On December 4, 2010, Newton led the Tigers to an SEC Championship. They beat South Carolina 56–17. Newton was named the game MVP. He passed for 335 yards and scored six total touchdowns. He became the third player in NCAA FBS history to throw and run for 20-plus touchdowns in a season. Newton was named the 2010 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He also won the 2010 AP Player of the Year.

Newton won the Heisman Trophy by a landslide. He was the third Auburn player to win it. After winning the SEC Championship, Auburn played in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game. They faced the Oregon Ducks. Auburn won 22–19, with Newton throwing for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Three days later, Newton declared for the 2011 NFL draft. Many sportswriters believe his 2010 season was one of the best ever in college football.

College Honors and Awards

• Heisman Trophy (2010)
• Maxwell Award (2010)
• Walter Camp Award (2010)
• Davey O'Brien Award (2010)
• Manning Award (2010)
• AP College Football Player of the Year (2010)
• Consensus first-team All-American (2010)
• First-team All-Southeastern Conference (2010)

Professional Career

On April 28, 2011, the Carolina Panthers picked Newton first overall in the 2011 NFL draft. He was the first Heisman winner since 2003 to be the top pick. He was also the first player to win the Heisman, a national championship, and be the top pick in a row.

Before the draft, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson asked Newton to keep a clean-cut look. Newton agreed to these requests. He was selected first overall. Newton later started growing his hair longer after Richardson sold the team.

Carolina Panthers (First Time)

On July 29, 2011, Newton signed a four-year contract with the Panthers. It was worth over $22 million. He chose to wear the No. 1 jersey. On September 1, 2011, he was named the Panthers' starting quarterback.

2011 Season: Rookie Sensation

In his NFL debut on September 11, 2011, Newton threw for 422 yards. He had two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for a touchdown. He was the first rookie to throw for at least 400 yards in his first game. His 422 passing yards broke Peyton Manning's rookie record.

In his second game, Newton broke his own record with 432 passing yards. He threw and rushed for a touchdown. His 854 passing yards in two games broke the NFL record for a rookie. He was the only player to start his career with two 400-yard passing games.

Newton in his rookie season

The Panthers got their first win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Newton threw for 158 yards and one touchdown. In Week 7, the Panthers beat the Washington Redskins. Newton threw for 256 yards and rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Newton set the NFL rushing touchdown record for quarterbacks on December 4, 2011. He rushed for his 13th touchdown of the season. This broke Steve Grogan's record from 1976. He had a career-high three rushing touchdowns in that game. He also caught a 27-yard pass, showing his versatility.

On December 24, 2011, Newton broke Peyton Manning's rookie passing yards record. He finished his rookie season with 4,051 passing yards. He had 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He also rushed for 706 yards and 14 touchdowns. The 14 rushing touchdowns were an NFL record for a quarterback in one season.

Newton was named to the Pro Bowl. He also won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year awards. He became the second straight number one pick to win the AP Rookie of the Year. He was the first Panther to win the Offensive award. He earned the nickname "Superman" for his touchdown celebration. He also started the "Sunday Giveaway" tradition. Panthers players would give the football to kids in the stands after scoring.

2012 Season

Newton started his second season with 303 passing yards. The Panthers had a tough start, going 3–9. In Week 12, Newton had a great game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He passed for 306 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for two touchdowns in a 30–22 victory. This earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

In Week 14, he had a career-high 116 rushing yards. He also had a rushing touchdown, plus 287 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. The Panthers finished the season with a 7–9 record. Newton improved his efficiency and reduced turnovers. He was rated as the 46th best player by his peers.

2013 Season

Newton in 2014 Pro Bowl

The 2013 season started slowly for the Panthers, with a 1–3 record. But then, they went on an eight-game winning streak. Newton was consistent during this time. He passed for 13 touchdowns and rushed for five. The Panthers finished with a 12–4 record. They earned a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Newton had 3,379 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for 585 yards and six touchdowns. He was selected for the 2014 Pro Bowl. The Panthers lost their first playoff game to the San Francisco 49ers. Newton was rated as the 24th best player in the NFL.

2014 Season

On March 21, 2014, Newton had surgery on his ankle ligaments. He missed training camp and the first preseason game. In the third preseason game, he got a hairline fracture on his ribs. He missed the first regular season game.

Newton made his debut in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions. He had 300 yards of offense and a touchdown in a 24–7 win.

Newton in 2014 in Baltimore

In Week 5, Newton led the Panthers to a comeback win against the Chicago Bears. He showed clear development as a passer. In Week 6, he accounted for 91% of the offense in a tie game. He had 286 passing yards and 107 rushing yards.

Newton had one of his best games in a 41–10 win over the New Orleans Saints. He threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Two days later, Newton was in a car crash and fractured two bones in his lower back. He missed only one game.

Newton led the Panthers to back-to-back division titles. He became the first quarterback with four seasons of at least 500 rushing yards. His 33 rushing touchdowns were the most by a quarterback in his first four seasons. He is also the only player with 10,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in his first four seasons.

The Panthers won their first playoff game in nine years against the Arizona Cardinals. Newton threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns. They lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the next round. Despite injuries, Newton was rated as the 73rd best player in the NFL.

2015 Season: MVP and Super Bowl 50

On June 2, 2015, Newton signed a five-year, $103.8 million contract extension. He started the season with a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. This was his first opening-day victory. In Week 2, he had two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. In Week 3, he had his 26th game with a passing and rushing touchdown.

Newton playing against the Saints in 2015

Newton led the Panthers to a 3–0 start, their first since 2003. Experts noted his growth as a quarterback. The Panthers started 4–0 for the first time since 2003. After a bye week, Newton led the Panthers to a win over the Seattle Seahawks. This was his ninth career fourth-quarter comeback win.

The Panthers achieved their first 6–0 record in franchise history. In Week 8, they moved to 7–0 with an overtime win against the Indianapolis Colts. Newton became the first NFL quarterback to win a comeback game when trailing in overtime.

The Panthers started 8–0 for the first time in franchise history. Newton threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. In Week 11, Newton threw a career-high five touchdown passes. He became the only quarterback with 100+ passing touchdowns and 25+ rushing touchdowns in his first five seasons. He earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week again.

On Thanksgiving, the Panthers beat the Dallas Cowboys. Newton led the Panthers to a 41–38 victory over the Saints. He had 380 combined passing and rushing yards and five touchdown passes. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in five weeks. This tied a record set by Tom Brady.

Newton in Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos

Newton led the Panthers to a 14–0 record. He had the second-most touchdown passes and led the NFL with 40 combined passing and rushing touchdowns. He was involved in 72 percent of the Panthers' total plays. 40 of Carolina's 49 touchdowns were thrown or run by Newton.

The Panthers had their first loss to the Atlanta Falcons. In the final regular-season game, Newton had two rushing touchdowns. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the fifth time. Newton led NFL quarterbacks in rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns in 2015. His 45 total touchdowns were the most since 2013.

Newton and the Panthers finished the season with a 15–1 record, a franchise best. They earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. They beat the Seattle Seahawks and then the Arizona Cardinals 49–15 in the NFC Championship. Newton threw for 335 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed for 47 yards and two touchdowns. He was the first quarterback to rush for multiple touchdowns in an NFC Championship.

On February 6, 2016, Newton was named NFL MVP. He was the second African-American quarterback to win the award. He earned First-team All-Pro honors and his third Pro Bowl nomination. In Super Bowl 50, the Panthers lost to the Denver Broncos 24–10. Newton was sacked six times and fumbled twice. These fumbles led to Broncos touchdowns.

Newton was ranked as the top player in the NFL by his peers. He also sold the 7th-most merchandise.

2016 Season

Newton in 2016 in Denver

In the first game of the 2016 season, Newton broke two of Steve Young's NFL records. He set new records for most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (44) and most games with a passing and rushing touchdown (32). He passed for 194 yards and rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown in a 21–20 loss.

On October 2, Newton suffered a concussion against the Atlanta Falcons. He missed the next game. On December 4, he was benched for the first play of a game due to a dress code violation. This was his first time starting as a backup in a professional game.

For the 2016 season, Newton's completion percentage was a career worst at 52.9%. He threw 19 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions. The Panthers' record dropped to 6–10. Despite this, Newton was still ranked 44th by his peers.

2017 Season

On March 30, Newton had surgery on his throwing shoulder.

During a press conference on October 4, Newton made a public comment that caused a stir. He later uploaded a video to Twitter apologizing for his remarks.

In Week 10, Newton had a great game against the Miami Dolphins. He threw for 254 yards and rushed for 95 yards. He had four total touchdowns. The Panthers won 45–21. His performance earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

He finished the regular season with 3,302 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He also had a career-high 754 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. The Panthers made the playoffs. They lost to the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round. Newton was ranked 25th by his peers.

2018–19: Injury-Shortened Seasons

In Week 1 of the 2018 season, the Panthers won 16–8. In Week 2, Newton threw for two touchdowns and ran for two touchdowns in a 31–21 victory. In Week 7, he led a comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Panthers were down 17–0 in the fourth quarter but won 21–17. Newton earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Newton against the Washington Redskins in 2018

Newton and the Panthers struggled in November. After six straight losses, Newton revealed a nagging shoulder injury. He hinted that he might miss the last two games to heal. On January 24, 2019, Newton had right shoulder surgery.

In a poll, Newton was voted the most underrated quarterback by defensive players. He was ranked 87th by his fellow players.

Newton returned from injury in Week 1 of the 2019 season. He passed for 239 yards in a loss. In Week 2, he completed 25 passes for 333 yards in another loss. Newton was held out of Week 3 due to injury. It was later found he had a foot injury. On November 5, the Panthers placed Newton on injured reserve.

On March 17, 2020, the Panthers announced they would trade Newton. But on March 24, they released him.

New England Patriots

After almost three months, Newton signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots on July 8, 2020. He was the first quarterback to follow Tom Brady in New England. He was named the starting quarterback and team captain on September 3.

In his first start with the Patriots, Newton led them to a 21–11 victory. He completed 15 passes for 155 yards. He also rushed 15 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 2, he had 397 passing yards, 47 rushing yards, one passing touchdown, and two rushing touchdowns.

On October 3, 2020, Newton tested positive for COVID-19. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. This postponed the team's Week 4 game. He was back on October 14. In Week 9, Newton passed for 274 yards and had two rushing touchdowns in a win. This was his third game with two rushing touchdowns in 2020.

In Week 11, Newton threw for 365 yards and a touchdown in a loss. In Week 13, he threw for only 69 yards and a touchdown. But he rushed for 48 yards and two more touchdowns in a 45–0 win. In Week 17, he had 242 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also had his first career touchdown reception on a trick play.

Newton finished the season with a league-high 12 quarterback rushing touchdowns. This was his second-highest season total. He threw for 2,657 yards and eight touchdowns.

On March 12, 2021, the Patriots re-signed Newton. He competed with rookie Mac Jones in training camp. On August 31, Newton was released by the Patriots.

Carolina Panthers (Second Time)

A young Panthers fan holding a handwritten sign during Newton's first game back at Bank of America Stadium

On November 11, 2021, Newton signed a one-year deal to return to the Panthers. This happened after starting quarterback Sam Darnold got injured. The deal was worth up to $10 million.

In his first game back, Newton played as a backup. But he made an immediate impact. He scored touchdowns on his first two plays. He had a two-yard run and a two-yard pass. This helped the Panthers win 34–10. In his return to Carolina the next week, he started. He scored two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in a loss.

Newton remained the starter for Week 12. But he was benched in the fourth quarter. He completed only 5 of 21 passes for 92 yards. In Week 14, Newton started again. He split playing time with P.J. Walker. He finished with 47 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

Newton finished the season with 684 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also had 230 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in six games. The Panthers lost all five games he started.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season

Postseason

Awards and Records

Awards

• NFL MVP (2015)
• NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2015)
• Best NFL Player ESPY Award (2016)
• PFWA MVP (2015)
• PFWA All-NFL Team (2015)
• PFWA All-NFC Team (2015)
• Bert Bell Award (2015)
• PFWA All-Rookie Team (2011)
• NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (September 2011)
• 3× Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week (Weeks 4, 15, 16 2011)
• 10× NFC Offensive Player of the Week
• PFWA Offensive Rookie of the Year (2011)
• Sporting News Rookie of the Year (2011)
• Heisman Trophy winner (2010)
• Consensus All-American (2010)
• First-team All-SEC (2010)
• Sporting News College Player of the Year (2010)

Rookie Records and Achievements

• Most combined touchdowns for a rookie in NFL history (35)
• Most combined yards for a rookie in NFL history (4,784)
• First rookie to pass for at least 4,000 yards
• First and only rookie to pass for more than 4,000 yards and rush for more than 700 yards
• First rookie in NFL history to pass for more than 400 yards in back-to-back games (September 11 and September 18, 2011)

NFL Records and Achievements

• Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in NFL history (75)
• Most games in NFL history with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown (32)
• Most Player of the Week awards in a single season (5), tied with Tom Brady
• Only player in NFL history with at least 30 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns in the same season (2015)
• First player in NFL history with 4,000+ passing yards and 10+ rushing touchdowns in a season
• First player in NFL history with 4,000+ passing yards and 500+ rushing yards in a season
• First quarterback in NFL history with multiple seasons of 20+ passing touchdowns and 10+ rushing touchdowns
• First player in NFL history with 10,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in his first four seasons
• First player in NFL history to have at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in five consecutive seasons
• First quarterback in NFL history to rush for 100+ yards and pass for 300+ yards with 5 touchdowns in a single game (December 20, 2015)
• First quarterback in NFL history to earn a comeback victory when trailing in overtime
• First player in Super Bowl era to pass for 300 yards and rush for multiple touchdowns in a playoff game

Panthers Franchise Records

• Pass completions, career (2,371), rookie season (310)
• Pass attempts, career (3,980)
• Passing yards, career (29,041), game (432), rookie season (4,051)
• Passing touchdowns, career (182), game (5, thrice)
• Passer Rating, season (99.4 in 2015)
• Rushing touchdowns, career (58), rookie season (14)
• Most combined yards in franchise history
• Most NFC Offensive Player of the Week Awards in a single season (5)

Patriots Franchise Records

• Longest run by a quarterback (49 yards)
• Most rushing yards by a quarterback, season (592)
• Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, season (12, tied with Steve Grogan)
• First quarterback to receive a touchdown pass

Personal Life

Newton in 2011

Cam Newton has children. He was involved in a car crash in Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 9, 2014. His vehicle flipped, and he suffered two back fractures.

Newton was a pescetarian (someone who eats fish but not other meat). As of March 2019, he became a vegan. Newton is a Christian. He often talks about his faith. He said, "It's just a God thing. I thank God every single day. I'm just His instrument and He's using me on a consistent basis daily."

Business Ventures

In 2013, Newton worked with the department store chain Belk. He launched his own clothing line called MADE by Cam Newton.

In May 2019, Newton opened a cigar bar and restaurant. It is called Fellaship and is located in downtown Atlanta.

Newton also does motivational speaking. He has a foundation named after him. It helps young people with their education, health, and social needs.

2024 Heisman Trophy Ceremony Attendance

In December 2024, Newton went to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. It was his first time attending since he won the award in 2010. He chose to return to support Travis Hunter, a finalist for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.

See also

In Spanish: Cam Newton para niños

• List of Auburn Tigers starting quarterbacks
• List of Carolina Panthers starting quarterbacks
• List of first overall National Football League draft picks
• List of Heisman Trophy winners