What began as a lighthearted pregame segment turned unexpectedly tense Saturday morning when former NFL MVP Cam Newton got into a brief sideline scuffle with a mascot during ESPN’s First Take broadcast at the Magic City Classic.
Cam Newton sees a playful scene turn awkward
The moment unfolded as the show filmed from the sidelines of Legion Field, where Alabama State and Alabama A&M were preparing for one of college football’s most spirited HBCU rivalries. Newton, who has embraced his post-NFL role as a larger-than-life media personality, joined in on a short 40-yard dash between the schools’ mascots.
After the race, Alabama A&M’s Bulldog mascot brushed past Newton and accidentally knocked his trademark hat off — an accessory that’s become almost synonymous with his personality and brand.
Newton didn’t laugh it off. Instead, he turned toward the mascot, appeared to give a light shove or slap, and said, “Stop playing with me.” Cameras caught the entire exchange.
Anyone watching Cam Newton get into it with the Alabama A&M Mascot? pic.twitter.com/0fA6l2FFJO
— Legend 🦁 (@Legendkilla691) October 24, 2025
Reactions ripple online
The video spread across social media within minutes, sparking the usual internet split. Some viewers saw it as harmless — an unscripted bit of sideline chaos that ended as quickly as it started. Others thought Newton’s reaction crossed a line, suggesting he let pride get the better of him on live television.
ESPN hasn’t commented publicly on whether the interaction was staged or spontaneous. Those who were there described the scene as “mostly playful, but tense for a moment.”
A reminder of Cam’s intensity
In some ways, it was classic Cam Newton — animated, unpredictable, and fully in the spotlight. Throughout his career, whether dancing after touchdowns or walking into press conferences in bold outfits, Newton has blurred the line between showmanship and competition.
Saturday’s scene, while brief, fit that mold. It was a reminder that Newton’s fire still burns, even when the stakes are small and the setting is a friendly HBCU rivalry.
Perspective from the sidelines
No one was injured, and both mascots went on with their duties as the crowd laughed it off. The broadcast continued. But the clip — looping endlessly across sports accounts — became the morning’s viral moment.
For most fans, it’ll be just another Cam Newton headline: a little quirky, a little controversial, and impossible to ignore.
And for the Magic City Classic, the play itself didn’t change a thing — the game still went on, the bands still battled, and the stands still buzzed. But for a few seconds, one hat on the turf turned a routine sideline segment into the talk of college football Saturday.
