Former MVP Cam Newton is catching heat online after emotional remarks about convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez resurfaced this week. The ex-Panthers QB defended his late Florida teammate, leading non-stop negative talk on social media.
Newton looked visibly broken in emotion while talking about Hernandez in a podcast appearance, revealing the former Patriots tight end was the only Gators teammate who reached out during Newton’s darkest hour. His emotion is understandable because at that time Newton faced suspension over a laptop theft incident.
NFL Fans Torch Cam Newton for Defending “Serial Killer” Aaron Hernandez
Newton, who gave everything to the Panthers, swore on his life and firstborn that Hernandez was the sole Florida player who checked on him during his 2008 suspension. The quarterback got indefinitely benched after a stolen laptop scandal nearly torpedoed his college career.
“On my soul, on my firstborn. Only one from UF checked on me, Aaron. Shows our bond. Fun-loving, loved hard, trauma from father’s loss,” Newton said.
The podcast aired in 2021, and Newton described Hernandez as having a “beautiful soul” and being “fun-loving. ” He insisted the villain’s portrayal didn’t match the person he knew. He acknowledged bodies were damaged but defended the character of his old teammate.
Brutal: The legendary Cam Newton vents about his friendship with Aaron Hernandez, saying that he had a “genuine heart” and deserved better.
“On my soul, on my firstborn. Only one from UF checked on me, Aaron. Shows our bond. Fun-loving, loved hard, trauma from father’s loss”… pic.twitter.com/xyuIAbRr2Q
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 15, 2025
To most people, Newton’s “fun-loving” friend was a convicted killer. Hernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2015 for the killing of Odin Lloyd and sentenced to life without parole.
He was later tried and acquitted in a separate 2012 Boston double murder that left Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado dead.
Between 2007 and 2013, Hernandez was connected to six shootings that left three people dead. Two years after his death, a former cellmate claimed Hernandez had also been involved in another killing.
Yet Newton chose compassion over condemnation. That decision has NFL fans bringing the lumber.
NFL Fans Torch Cam Newton for Defending “Serial Killer” Aaron Hernandez
The comment section turned into a warzone. Fans weren’t buying Newton’s redemption arc for a convicted killer.
“Defending a serial killer is wild lol,” one fan wrote.
Another added, “He’s a freaking clown.”
A third noted, “Aaron shot his best friend in the f—– eye. Dude was a menace. F—– him.”
“Be glad you’re alive Cam,” a fourth shared ominously.
A fifth asked, “Is that what you would tell the families of the people he killed?”
The sixth wrote, “Uhh.. this ain’t it. Cam always finds a way to one up the last stupid thing he said.”
A seventh remarked, “Cam is a f—– idiot!!! this man was a gang member who murdered someone. Hope he rots in hell!!!”
The backlash shows how Hernandez’s violent crimes continue to overshadow any good memories of him. After his death, doctors at Boston University found severe CTE damage in his brain, adding another layer to an already tragic scene.
But fans aren’t interested in nuance. To them, murder erases everything else, even genuine friendship from college days.
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