History of Cam Newton in Timeline
Cam Newton is a former American football quarterback, most notably for the Carolina Panthers. He holds the NFL record for quarterback rushing touchdowns and ranks third in rushing yards. Newton achieved significant success in college, winning the Heisman Trophy and a national championship with Auburn. Drafted first overall by the Panthers in 2011, he set franchise records in passing yards, touchdowns, and rushing touchdowns.
1960: Touchdown Ranking
By week three of 2015, Newton achieved the third-most games with two-plus touchdown passes and at least one rushing touchdown in the NFL since 1960.
1965: Tucker Frederickson drafted #1 overall
In 1965, Tucker Frederickson was drafted #1 overall, one of Auburn's No. 1 selections after Cam Newton in 2011.
1971: Pat Sullivan's Record
In 1971, Pat Sullivan set a school record for most touchdowns in a single season, which stood until Cam Newton broke it in 2010.
1976: Steve Grogan's rushing touchdown record
In 1976, Steve Grogan set the NFL record of 12 rushing touchdowns for quarterbacks, which was broken by Cam Newton in 2011.
1983: Father's NFL Career
In 1983, Cam Newton's father, Cecil Newton Sr., played as a safety for the Dallas Cowboys.
1984: Father's NFL Career
In 1984, Cam Newton's father, Cecil Newton Sr., played as a safety for the Buffalo Bills.
1986: Bo Jackson drafted #1 overall
In 1986, Bo Jackson was drafted #1 overall, one of Auburn's No. 1 selections after Cam Newton in 2011.
1988: Aundray Bruce drafted #1 overall
In 1988, Aundray Bruce was drafted #1 overall, one of Auburn's No. 1 selections after Cam Newton in 2011.
May 11, 1989: Cameron Jerrell Newton Born
On May 11, 1989, Cameron Jerrell Newton was born. He would later become a professional football quarterback.
1995: Kerry Collins PFWA All-Rookie Team
In 1995, Kerry Collins was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, one of the Panthers quarterback to claim this award, following Cam Newton in 2012.
2000: Kurt Warner's NFL Record
In the 2000 season, Kurt Warner set the NFL record with 827 passing yards through the first two games, which Cam Newton broke during the 2011 season.
2001: Chris Weinke PFWA All-Rookie Team
In 2001, Chris Weinke was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, one of the Panthers quarterback to claim this award, following Cam Newton in 2012.
2002: Julius Peppers AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
In 2002, Julius Peppers was named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, the second Panthers rookie of the year, following Cam Newton in 2012.
2003: Carson Palmer drafted #1 overall
In 2003, Carson Palmer was drafted #1 overall, before Cam Newton in 2011, the first Heisman Trophy winner since Carson Palmer to be drafted first overall.
2003: Steve McNair Shared Award
In 2016, it was noted that Newton was the second African-American quarterback to receive the MVP honor after Steve McNair in 2003, who shared his award with Peyton Manning.
2003: Team Start
Newton helped lead the Panthers to a 3-0 start in 2015, the first time they had done so since the 2003 NFL season, and a 4-0 record for the first time since 2003.
2004: Last SEC Championship Win
In 2004, Auburn last won the SEC Championship, prior to Cam Newton leading them to victory in 2010.
2006: LaDainian Tomlinson Comparison
In 2015, Newton became the NFL's first player to win the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award four times in a seven-week span since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006.
2007: Committed to University of Florida
In 2007, Cam Newton committed to the University of Florida as a five-star prospect, joining their top-rated recruiting class.
2007: Freshman Season at Florida
In 2007, as a freshman at the University of Florida, Cam Newton played in five games, passing for 40 yards and rushing for 103 yards with three touchdowns.
2007: Offensive Player of the Week Award
In 2015, Newton tied Tom Brady's 2007 record for most Offensive Player of the Week awards in a season, with five.
November 21, 2008: Arrested on Felony Charges
On November 21, 2008, Cam Newton was arrested on felony charges, including burglary and larceny, for allegedly stealing a laptop from another student at the University of Florida.
January 2009: Transferred to Blinn College
In January 2009, Cam Newton transferred to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, to play football.
September 4, 2010: First Game at Auburn
On September 4, 2010, Cam Newton started his first game for Auburn University, accounting for 186 passing yards, 171 rushing yards, and five total offensive touchdowns in a win over Arkansas State.
November 2010: Report of Potential Expulsion
In November 2010, a report surfaced that Cam Newton faced potential expulsion from the University of Florida for multiple instances of academic dishonesty prior to transferring.
November 2010: Allegations Against Father
In early November 2010, allegations surfaced that Cam Newton's father, Cecil Newton, sought money in return for his son playing for a major college football team.
December 4, 2010: SEC Championship Victory
On December 4, 2010, Cam Newton led the Auburn Tigers to an SEC Championship victory over South Carolina, earning MVP honors after passing for 335 yards and scoring six total touchdowns.
2010: Considered Best Single Season
Cam Newton's 2010 season is considered by some sportswriters as the best single season by a player in NCAA history.
January 10, 2011: BCS National Championship Win
On January 10, 2011, Cam Newton led Auburn to a 22–19 victory over Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game.
January 2011: Newton begins working out with George Whitfield Jr.
In late January 2011, Cam Newton started training with quarterback coach George Whitfield Jr. in San Diego to prepare for the NFL Draft.
April 28, 2011: Cam Newton drafted #1 overall by Carolina Panthers
On April 28, 2011, Cam Newton was selected first overall in the NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers, making him the first Heisman Trophy winner since Carson Palmer in 2003 to be drafted first overall, in addition to being the first player to win the Heisman, a national championship, and be the top pick in consecution.
July 29, 2011: Newton signs contract with Carolina Panthers
On July 29, 2011, Cam Newton signed a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth over $22 million with the Carolina Panthers.
September 1, 2011: Newton named Panthers' starting quarterback
On September 1, 2011, Cam Newton was named the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, ahead of Derek Anderson and Jimmy Clausen.
September 11, 2011: Newton's NFL Debut: Sets Rookie Passing Record
On September 11, 2011, in his NFL debut against the Arizona Cardinals, Cam Newton passed for 422 yards, setting a rookie record for most passing yards on opening day and becoming the first rookie to throw for at least 400 yards in his first career game.
October 2011: NCAA investigation closed with no findings against Auburn
In October 2011, the NCAA concluded its 13-month investigation into Cam Newton's recruitment, finding no evidence of Auburn's involvement in any pay-for-play scheme. The investigation determined that Cecil Newton only solicited payment from Mississippi State.
December 4, 2011: Newton sets NFL rushing touchdown record for quarterbacks
On December 4, 2011, Cam Newton set the NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with his 13th touchdown of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also caught a 27-yard pass, becoming a triple threat in the game.
December 24, 2011: Newton breaks Peyton Manning's rookie passing record
On December 24, 2011, Cam Newton broke Peyton Manning's record for most passing yards by a rookie in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown.
2011: Drafted into the NFL
In 2011, Cam Newton was drafted first overall by the Carolina Panthers and went on to set franchise records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, and rushing touchdowns.
2011: First Professional Game
On December 4, 2016, Newton was benched for the first offensive series for a dress code violation, marking his first professional game since his preseason game in 2011 where he started as backup.
January 1, 2012: Newton becomes first rookie quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards
On January 1, 2012, Cam Newton became the first rookie quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a game against the New Orleans Saints.
January 22, 2012: Newton named to Pro Bowl
On January 22, 2012, Cam Newton was named to the Pro Bowl after the New York Giants beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship.
February 4, 2012: Newton wins AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year
On February 4, 2012, Cam Newton was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year.
2012: Rushing Touchdown Record
In Week 14 of 2012, Newton had a notable performance against Atlanta, rushing for 116 yards on nine carries.
2013: Newton rated 46th best player by peers
In 2013, Cam Newton was rated as the 46th best player by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players list, after his performance during the 2012 season.
2013: Pass Attempt Average
In 2013, Newton's average time to attempt a pass was 2.73 seconds, with the ball out in under 2.5 seconds on 40% of drop-backs.
2013: Panthers 8-game winning streak
In 2013, the Panthers went on an eight-game winning streak starting in Week 5 with Newton leading.
2013: Total Touchdowns
In 2015, Newton's 45 total touchdowns during the regular season marked the most touchdowns by a single player since 2013.
March 21, 2014: Newton undergoes ankle surgery
On March 21, 2014, Cam Newton underwent surgery to tighten his ankle ligaments, which he had dealt with since his college days at Auburn University.
December 9, 2014: Car Crash
On December 9, 2014, Cam Newton was involved in a car crash in Charlotte. His vehicle flipped, and he suffered two back fractures.
2014: Newton selected for 2014 Pro Bowl
In 2014, Cam Newton was selected for the Pro Bowl, after the 2013 season.
2014: Opening Day Victory
In 2014, the Panthers won their opening game with an injured Newton on the sidelines.
March 2015: Merchandise Sales
In March 2015, it was the start of the period that counted towards Newton selling the 7th-most merchandise from March 2015 to February 2016.
June 2, 2015: Contract Extension
On June 2, 2015, Newton and the Panthers agreed to a five-year, $103.8 million contract extension.
2015: NFL Top 100 Players of 2015
Despite injuries during the 2015 season, Newton was ranked as the 73rd best player in the NFL on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
2015: Graduation from Auburn University
In 2015, Cam Newton graduated from Auburn University with a degree in sociology.
2015: Named NFL MVP
In 2015, Cam Newton was named the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) and helped Carolina obtain a franchise-best 15–1 record en route to an appearance in Super Bowl 50.
2015: NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year
In 2015, Newton was selected as the NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year by the PFWA.
February 6, 2016: NFL MVP Award
On February 6, 2016, Newton was named NFL MVP, becoming the second African-American quarterback to receive the honor and the first sole recipient.
February 7, 2016: Super Bowl 50
On February 7, 2016, Newton and the Panthers lost Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10. Newton was sacked six times and fumbled twice during the game.
February 2016: Merchandise Sales
In February 2016, it was recorded that Newton sold the 7th-most merchandise from March 2015 to February 2016.
2016: Career Worst Passing Percentage
During the 2016 season, Newton completed 52.9 percent of his passes, marking a career worst in that category. The Panthers also regressed to a 6–10 record.
2016: NFL Records
During the opening game of the 2016 season, Newton broke two of Steve Young's NFL records, one for the most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and the other for most games with a passing and rushing touchdown.
2017: NFL Top 100 Players of 2017
Despite a down 2016 season, Newton was still ranked 44th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
January 24, 2019: Shoulder Surgery
On January 24, 2019, Cam Newton underwent right shoulder surgery.
March 2019: Became Vegan
As of March 2019, Cam Newton has become a vegan.
March 17, 2020: Permission to Seek Trade
On March 17, 2020, the Panthers announced that they had given Cam Newton permission to seek a trade.
July 8, 2020: Signed with the Patriots
On July 8, 2020, Cam Newton signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots.
October 3, 2020: Tested Positive for COVID-19
On October 3, 2020, Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
2020: Played for the New England Patriots
In 2020, after being released by the Panthers, Cam Newton played for the New England Patriots.
March 12, 2021: Re-signed with the Patriots
On March 12, 2021, Cam Newton re-signed with the New England Patriots.
November 11, 2021: Signed with the Panthers
On November 11, 2021, Cam Newton signed a one-year deal to return to the Carolina Panthers.
December 2024: Heisman Trophy Ceremony
In December 2024, Cam Newton attended the Heisman Trophy ceremony for the first time since 2010, to support Travis Hunter.
2024: Fathered a daughter
In 2024, Cam Newton fathered a daughter with actress and comedian Jasmin Brown.
