5 critical observations from Cam Newton’s 2021 season

Cam Newton got closure

During his re-introductory press conference, Cam Newton stated this was not about some farewell tour. The quarterback was back to win football games for the Carolina Panthers and provide the fans something they’d been missing from the moment he departed.

That was the right attitude to have. But from the moment he was benched in favor of Sam Darnold, there was a more nostalgic feel to his media availability – especially over the final fortnight of the campaign.

Newton was in a reflective mood at his exit presser, stating that his return to Carolina provided him with some closure, which was clearly important to the player after the horrible way his first departure was handled by the new regime.

Although nobody is ruling out a return next season, it’s unlikely Newton would want to stay and backup Sam Darnold. That’s just not the way to go out after giving the organization so much since he was taken No. 1 overall out of Auburn.

"“I think everything in life, as you meditate and you find out about yourself, everything in life you don’t know what it is while you’re going through it. The whole synopsis of everything, I don’t necessarily know. But it was needed for me to come back. I think I got closure for a lot of different things, and yeah, I think it was very meaningful for my life and my career.”"

Newton gave Carolina every ounce of his being. A transcendent talent on the field who provided the community with so much inspiration that won’t soon be forgotten.