A look back at some of Cam Newton’s best moments with the Carolina Panthers

By Chase Whitney

November 11, 2021

Photo: Logan Bowles / AP

A year and nearly eight months after the Carolina Panthers released him, Cam Newton has landed in Charlotte once again. After being vaccinated against Covid-19, he found his way back to his former team as Sam Darnold went on injured reserve with a fractured right shoulder.

Newton’s new contract spans the rest of this season and is worth up to $10 million with $4.5 million guaranteed and a $1.5 million roster bonus, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Watch Cam’s emotional vlog video:

Newton only spent one-and-a-half seasons away from Charlotte, but he’s been missed during that time. No athlete in the city has come close to approaching his popularity. He won an MVP here, led the Panthers to a Super Bowl berth, and was a generous, dedicated member of the community. The Panthers aren’t getting MVP level Cam Newton in 2021, but with how things have gone since a 3-0 start to the season, watching him sling it and bulldoze opposing defensive players will be a welcomed sight. 



Newton has given Carolina fans a lot to cheer for over the years, so let’s take a look at some of the best moments of his Panthers career.

Cam’s first game against the Arizona Cardinals

It didn’t take long for Cam to establish himself in the league. He connected with Steve Smith on his first touchdown pass, a 77-yard bomb, and then tallied a record-breaking 422 yards before the game was finished in his Panthers debut.

Cam flips into end zone against the Texans

In Week 2 of the 2015 season, Cam gave one of the best examples of his otherworldy athleticism against the Texans at Bank of America Stadium. It’s one thing to get flipped upside down while diving across the goal line, but landing on two feet for the touchdown is something else.

72-yard run against the Falcons

With Steve Smith blocking downfield, a young Cam running for 72 yards, Gus Johnson’s impeccable call on the broadcast, and a flip into the end zone, there’s not much else one could ask for in a highlight.

Crazy run against the Patriots in 2013 

This scramble to avoid the sack on third down against the Patriots is just absurd. Most quarterbacks would be lucky to avoid three sacks in an entire game. It goes beyond being athletic– a player has to have a high level of football instinct and creativity to even attempt escaping sacks like this.

Game winning drive against the Seahawks in 2015

In the midst of his MVP season, Cam came through in the clutch yet again to keep the Panthers undefeated in Week 6 against Seattle. Outscoring the Seahawks 13-3 in the fourth quarter, Cam connected with Greg Olsen on a game-winning touchdown pass to win 27-23

Cam Newton gives out several souvenirs to kids in five-touchdown performance

Cam did a lot of great things on the football field, but he also made a massive impact in the Charlotte community. Throwing five touchdown passes and tying a Panthers franchise record, he handed out five special souvenirs to kids in the stands at Bank of America Stadium. The win marked the first 10-0 start in franchise history as Cam continued his march towards an MVP and Super Bowl berth.

The 2015 Panthers’ 41-38 victory against the New Orleans Saints

The greatest team in Panthers history entered Week 13 with an 11-0 record, but they faced one of its toughest challenges against the Drew Brees led Saints. This game was absolute madness. Carolina was trailing the Saints 14-0 before coming back in a game that had six lead changes. Newton threw for 331 yards and five touchdowns with 49 rushing yards in the big win leading the Panthers to a 12-0 start.

Infamous OBJ game

Dressed as Green Lantern in warmups, Cam and Odell Beckham Jr. talked it up on the sidelines, but that wasn’t the big headline after the game. Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman battled all game long and eventually fought each other, overshadowing a game-winning drive by Cam who had 340 passing yards, five touchdowns and 100 yards rushing.

Cam Newton voted No. 1 player in 2016 by his peers

After winning MVP and leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl, Cam’s greatness was recognized as he was No. 1 on the NFL Top 100 list voted on by the players in the league in 2016.




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