Longtime NFL Reporter Announces Retirement

David Newton Announces Retirement After 45 Years in Journalism

Newton revealed in a Facebook post that he is retiring after spending the last 20 years with ESPN.

The veteran reporter reflected on how his career unexpectedly started shortly after graduating from Wofford College in 1981. Newton explained that he originally planned to attend law school before accepting an opportunity at a small newspaper in Gaffney, South Carolina.

“Forty-five years ago, a naive 20-year-old graduated from Wofford College with the plan to take six months off and enter law school,” Newton wrote. “Forty-five days later, a small newspaper in Gaffney (S.C.) offered me a chance to be the sports editor.”

That opportunity ultimately launched a career that stretched across nearly five decades.

ESPN Career Included Panthers, NFL and NASCAR Coverage

Newton joined ESPN in 2006 as the lead reporter for the network’s NASCAR coverage before transitioning to NFL coverage as part of ESPN’s NFL Nation launch in 2013.

Over the years, he became closely associated with Panthers coverage while also appearing on “SportsCenter,” “NFL Live,” and “Sunday NFL Countdown.”

Before joining ESPN, Newton covered the NFL for The State newspaper in South Carolina. During his career, he covered seven Super Bowls along with major sporting events including The Masters, the U.S. Open, college football, and the Final Four.

Newton also earned the Russ Catlin Award for excellence in journalism during his time covering NASCAR.

ESPN Executive Reacts to David Newton Retirement News

Following Newton’s announcement, ESPN Vice President of PR Bill Hofheimer publicly congratulated the longtime reporter for his contributions to sports journalism.

“Salute and congratulations to David Newton on his retirement after an accomplished 45-year career in journalism, including the last 20 with ESPN,” Hofheimer wrote on X.

Newton spent years covering some of the most memorable stretches in Panthers history, including the careers of Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly.

His retirement message also revealed that he was preparing to undergo hip replacement surgery before beginning a new chapter away from the daily sports grind.

“Forty-five minutes from now, I’ll be entering surgery for a hip replacement,” Newton wrote. “I will wake up to a new life where sports won’t be the focus. It’s time to retire from a job that never really felt like a job.”