Panthers bring back Cam Newton on one-year deal

Cam Newton Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers bring back former MVP Cam Newton on one-year deal

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 11/11/21

The Charlotte Observer's Jonathan M. Alexander first reported that 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers were meeting on Thursday morning to discuss a possible reunion. Apparently the meeting went pretty well, as the 32-year-old agreed to a deal to return to the organization that selected him first overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Big-time reunion: The #Panthers are signing former franchise QB Cam Newton after the meeting with Carolina brass today. Thanks to the Sam Darnold injury, Cam is back with the #Panthers.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 11, 2021

Source: The #Panthers are giving QB Cam Newton a 1-year deal worth up to $10M for the rest of year...includes $4.5M fully guaranteed and $1.5M roster bonus.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 11, 2021

The Panthers were in the market for a new starting quarterback after Sam Darnold was recently placed on IR with a shoulder injury. As NFL Network's Tom Pelissero noted, while the Panthers are just 4-5, they are still very much in the hunt for a playoff spot.

The #Panthers enter Week 10 just a half-game back of Atlanta for the No. 7 playoff seed in the NFC ... and now will chase the postseason with Cam Newton at QB.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 11, 2021

The former Auburn star's best season came in 2015 when he was named First-Team All-Pro, won the league's MVP Award, and guided the Panthers to a 15-1 record and an appearance in Super Bowl 50. Over 140 career games, including last season with the New England Patriots, Newton has completed 60.1% of his passes for 31,698 yards and 190 touchdowns against 118 interceptions.

Newton has also recorded 5,398 rushing yards and 70 touchdowns on 1,071 career carries.

After nine years with the Panthers, Newton was cut by the squad in March 2020 and signed by the Patriots to a one-year, $1.75 million deal last July. After one season with the Patriots, Newton was released on Aug. 31, 2021.

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