Cam Newton, the former Carolina Panthers quarterback and 2015 NFL MVP, has stirred controversy by claiming he stepped into a “locker room of losers” during his rookie season in 2011. This statement elicited a strong reaction from Steve Smith Jr., a former Panthers wide receiver and two-time All-Pro, who expressed his disappointment regarding Newton’s remarks about the team.
Adding to the discussion, Ron Rivera, the Panthers’ former head coach, commented on the matter.
“It’s unfortunate he made the comments, and now he’s just gotta live with them and own up,” Rivera stated, highlighting the weight of Newton’s words.
Both Newton and Rivera joined the Panthers in 2011, with Newton being the first overall pick in the NFL Draft out of Auburn, while Rivera took on his inaugural head-coaching role in the NFL.
Before their arrival, the Panthers had a solid nine-year tenure under head coach John Fox (2002-10), which ended with a dismal 2-14 record in 2010. This poor performance prompted the franchise to seek new leadership, resulting in Rivera’s hiring.
In the remarkable 2015 season, Newton showcased his talent, throwing for 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns, alongside rushing for 636 yards and 10 touchdowns, ultimately earning MVP honors.
However, the Panthers faced a setback in 2016, missing the playoffs, but rebounded in 2017 with an 11-5 record, only to be eliminated in the wild-card round. Unfortunately, they never made a return to the playoffs during Newton and Rivera’s tenure together.
After the 2019 season, the Panthers released Newton, while Rivera was dismissed following a 5-7 start. Under Rivera’s leadership, Carolina compiled a regular-season record of 76-63-1 and a postseason record of 3-4, making him the winningest head coach in franchise history from 2011 to 2019.
Newton went on to play for the New England Patriots in 2020 but was cut before the 2021 season. He made a brief return to the Panthers in 2021, playing eight games and starting five, marking his last appearance in the league.
Meanwhile, Rivera took the reins as head coach of the Washington Commanders from 2020 to 2023, leading the team to a record of 26-40-1 in the regular season and 0-1 in the postseason. He was let go following the 2023 season and has since accepted a front-office position with his alma mater, the California Golden Bears.
Newton remains Carolina’s all-time leader in several categories, including passing yards (29,725), passing touchdowns (186), rushing touchdowns (63), and wins (68), while ranking third in rushing yards (5,036).
