Eyeing NFL comeback, Cam Newton will throw at Auburn’s pro day
One of Auburn’s all-time greats will be back on the Plains for the Tigers’ pro day, looking to prove himself once again.
Cam Newton, the 2010 Hesiman winner and national champion quarterback, announced Monday evening that he will be throwing at Auburn’s pro day on Tuesday as he eyes an NFL comeback. Auburn teased Newton’s participation on Twitter on Monday evening, unveiling a personalized pro day outfit for the former NFL MVP, and Newton then confirmed his decision with a video posted to social media.
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“Tell me how these randoms keep getting jobs,” Newton said in the video. “Don’t worry, I’m gonna show you. I can’t wait to show you. I love it. I love it. I’ve seen a lot of people toying with the idea, and it’s official: I will be throwing at Auburn’s pro day Tuesday. Ain’t 32 mother-[expletive] better than me.”
Newton will throw in front of NFL scouts at the Tigers’ pro day, which is set to begin around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The video included clips of Newton throwing routes to his younger brother Caylin Newton, who started his career as a quarterback at Howard before transferring to Auburn to play wide receiver and ultimately finishing his career at Williams & Mary last season.
The older Newton, who led Auburn to the BCS National Championship in his lone season on the Plains, spent 11 seasons in the NFL after being drafted No. 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL Draft. He led Carolina to a Super Bowl appearance in 2015, when the franchise went 15-1 during the regular season and Newton took home league MVP. The Panthers released Newton ahead of the 2020 season, and he then signed with the New England Patriots. Newton spent one season in New England and started 15 games for the Patriots — going 7-8 as a starter — before the franchise released him the following year.
Newton made a return to Carolina in 2021 and started five games for the Panthers but was not re-signed by the team in free agency. Newton did not sign with a team last offseason, and his last on-field appearance came in Carolina’s regular-season finale at Tampa Bay on Jan. 9, 2022.
In his 11 NFL seasons, Newton appeared in 148 games and made 144 starts while completing 59.9 percent of his passes for 32,382 yards, 194 touchdowns and 123 interceptions. He also has 5,628 career rushing yards and 75 touchdowns while averaging 5 yards per carry. His 75 rushing touchdowns are the most by a quarterback in NFL history.
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.