It's official, Super Cam is coming home.
The Carolina Panthers agreed to terms with former franchise quarterback Cam Newton on Thursday. The Charlotte franchise signed Newton to a one-year, 10 million dollar contract, with 4.5 million guaranteed for the rest of the season. The deal comes after it was announced earlier this week that current Panthers' starting quarterback Sam Darnold suffered an incomplete fracture in his right shoulder and is expected to miss up to six weeks. Darnold was traded to Carolina from the New York Jets this past offseason for three draft picks.
Newton returns to the Panthers, who drafted him number one overall in the 2011 NFL Draft from the Auburn Tigers. The Atlanta native is one of two quarterbacks to throw for over 400 yards in his first NFL start. Newton is remembered most for his impressive 2015 season which saw him win the NFL MVP award and help lead the Panthers to a Super Bowl 50 appearance. Newton was let go by the team after multiple injuries kept him on the sidelines for most of the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Newton started at quarterback for the New England Patriots in 2020.
In nine seasons as a Panther, Newton made his mark accumulating 29,041 passing yards, 182 passing touchdowns, 5,398 rushing yards, and 58 rushing touchdowns.
All are franchise records.
It is unlikely that Newton will be starting this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. However, many project him to make his first start in a Panthers jersey since 2019 in two weeks when the Washington Football Team comes to Charlotte. That matchup will see Washington's current head coach Ron Rivera make his return to Charlotte. Rivera was fired by the Panthers in 2019 after eight seasons with the team.
Cam Newton and current Panthers' owner David Tepper