Cam Newton Has Plan to Save NFL Pro Bowl

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Brendan Howe | Last updated Feb 28, 2025 1:22 PM ET

Cam Newton was selected to three Pro Bowls during his NFL career. However, the league's all-star game isn't as popular as it once was among fans and players alike.

Sports Business Journal reported that the Pro Bowl drew in 4.7 million viewers this year, its lowest live audience on record. The event was rebranded as the Pro Bowl Games for 2023, including a flag football game.

Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP and 2010 Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn, thinks a different format would better suit the Pro Bowl.

"I wanna see (expletive) Justin Jefferson go against the best DB," Newton said Thursday on his podcast, "4th&1 With Cam Newton." "I wanna see whoever's the top receiver go versus the top DB in a one-on-one. Best two out of three win.

"You can't say that it's gonna be the quarterback fault because you're gonna have the top-tier quarterbacks that's there. King of the field."

Newton pointed out how popular content creator Deestroying's videos are. He thinks the NFL should pay closer attention to what's trending.

As for the trenches, Newton believes it should be the same. The most stout blockers should square off with the most talented defensive linemen.

"Now, offensive line, they do it in the combine," Newton said. "Or they do it at certain high school combines, where it's a dog, it's the interior line, one-on-one. ... You see what I'm saying. Get to the bucket or get to the dummy."

Newton also wants to see kickers and punters boot the ball as far as they can as the crowd tries to distract them.

"Now, when you line that (expletive) up and we're gonna get the butter from the duck, ask the ... fans who they wanna see go against each other," Newton said. "And, if you (expletive) win, it's a bonus."

This year's Pro Bowl Games winners earned a record $92,000 share. The losers brought in a little over half of that.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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