Outside of fellow Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks Johnny Manziel and Tim Tebow, former Auburn football dual-threat star Cam Newton dealt with the most media pressure during his playing days. Newton, the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner and leader of Auburn’s last title-winning team, faced immense pressure as the first overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the subsequent draft. Already on the heels of a well-documented college career, Newton mostly shined at the next level, winning an MVP and earning three Pro Bowl nods.
Newton last played in 2021 and has since transitioned into media, hosting his own podcast titled “4th & 1.” Newton has done well as a media talking head but also believes he can lend a hand to the new crop of passers in the NFL, mainly current Panthers signal-caller Bryce Young. On Tuesday, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov, Newton has “made himself available as a resource for guidance” to Young this offseason.
Cam Newton: Playing Mentor Role to Bryce Young
Former Auburn football star Cam Newton is an excellent person to have in your corner as a second-year passer on one of the worst teams in the NFL. On Tuesday, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young called Newton a “resource for guidance,” per Ari Meirov. Like Young, Newton took over for the Panthers as a rookie after the NFC South squad held the first overall pick in the previous draft. Young struggled, throwing for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 picks, with Carolina owning a 2-14 record in his starts. Following a disastrous rookie campaign, Newton has made himself available to Young in what sounds like a mentorship-type role.
#Panthers QB Bryce Young said today that Cam Newton has made himself available as a resource for guidance, and it has meant a lot to him. pic.twitter.com/cV3giJELDn
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 23, 2024
Conversely, Newton won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in his inaugural season with the Panthers, throwing for 4,051 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 17 picks. He also added 706 yards and 14 scores via the ground. However, the Panthers posted a winning record in his third season in 2013, with the then-24-year-old leading the team to a 12-4 record.
Cam Newton: Stark Similarities to Young
The similarities between Cam Newton and Bryce Young do not stop at first overall picks by the Carolina Panthers. Newton won the Heisman Trophy Award with Auburn football in 2015, while Young took home the title in 2021. They each earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year and All-American honors in the same season. Additionally, they both started title games, although only Newton emerged victorious when Auburn football beat the Oregon Ducks the same season he won the Heisman.
Most notably, the two passers became the first overall selection in the NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers won two games the year before the selection of Newton with the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Daft. Meanwhile, after a 7-10 season in 2022, Carolina opted to trade for the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, selecting Alabama’s Bryce Young.
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