A viral tweet has NFL fans debating if Cam Newton is Hall of Fame-worthy or not.
The first overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft isn’t officially retired, but he hasn’t played since the 2021 campaign. The 34-year-old went unsigned in 2022 and remains a free agent nearly two years after taking his last NFL snap.
The NFL Rookie Watch Twitter account posted a tweet showing some of Newton’s career highlights, noting that the Auburn product is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2027.
This tweet led to an intriguing debate among football fans that featured arguments for and against Newton earning a golden jacket from the Canton committee.
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Newton has several individual accolades to strengthen his case, including 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year honors as well as the 2015 MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards. Newton helped the Carolina Panthers to four playoff appearances, including a trip to Super Bowl 50.
Newton was on a Hall of Fame trajectory some years ago, but injuries unfortunately quickly derailed his career. He had an up-and-down 2018 season with Carolina as he fought through multiple injuries, and then Newton missed all but two games in 2019.
A one-year stop with the New England Patriots did nothing to revive Newton’s career. He returned to Carolina in 2021 but lost all five starts, tossing four touchdowns and five interceptions in those games.
Never say never, but given the large quantity of other elite quarterbacks during his prime years, it feels unlikely that Newton will get in.