Former NFL MVP Cam Newton said he has had contact with teams about returning to the NFL this year after not playing during the 2022 season.

Newton wants the opportunity to compete for a starting spot at quarterback and has stated he doesn’t think there are 32 quarterbacks better than he is. He also has announced a list of quarterbacks that he’d be fine backing up if a starting opportunity is not available.

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During an appearance on “Undefined with Josina Anderson” this week, Newton was asked if his appearance, particularly his hair, was keeping him from getting an NFL opportunity.

“It’s been a hinderance,” Newton said, “and I’m not changing. This is one thing I do understand about my stance, especially with the NFL. It’s such a prestigious brotherhood, fraternity. Whether I go back or not, I always can be able to say I did it at a high level. Where I’m at right now in my life, do I need the NFL? No. Does the NFL need me? Hell no. I think that understanding is the reason why I’m able to kind of just be fine.

“But, yeah, people have hinted towards to say, ‘Cam, we want you to go back to the 2015 clean-cut Cam.’ But that was a different me. Like right now, where I’m at is really embracing who I am, right?”

Newton said he didn’t think his hair would be the reason if he did not get another chance in the NFL.

“I gained a lot of great counsel from a lot of people,” Newton said. “And the thing that is always mentioned is: Cam, you’re scaring people with how you look. And I would say — I’m not going to name names — but there’s other quarterbacks in the league that don’t look like me, but they got long hair. They don’t scare them, do they? We can go tit for tat and tat for tit with it, but I would just turn an eye to that and say, ‘Look, that’s not the reason why I’m not in the NFL.’

“I hope I’m not being blackballed for that, but I don’t think that’s the situation. I’m at a situation where I’m not getting no younger. There’s guys that are cheaper than me that probably have a step up on me. It’s discretionary. But I’m in a good space. They can think what they want, but the reality of it is: Who knows? My hair is deeply rooted in my culture and the people who look like me, and I’ve always wanted to impact and empower my community first.”

Newton won the Heisman Trophy in 2010, when Auburn captured the BCS national championship to cap an unbeaten season.

The first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Newton helped the Carolina Panthers win six NFC South titles over the next nine seasons while becoming the franchise’s all-time passing leader, setting the league record for touchdowns scored by a quarterback and winning the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

But Newton hasn’t thrown a pass in an NFL game since Dec. 26, 2021 and wasn’t on a team during the 2022 season.

“I have spoken with some teams,” Newton said, “and it was kind of the same sentiment: We’re going to see after the draft.”

The 2023 NFL Draft was held April 27-29, and 14 quarterbacks were chosen.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.