Cam Newton on Radio Row at the Super Bowl LIX media center. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

'SuperCam' returns: Panthers hint at big Cam Newton news before playoff game vs. Rams

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jan 8, 2026 9:02 AM ET

"SuperCam" is returning to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

In a story published Wednesday, Joseph Person of The Athletic reported the Carolina Panthers contacted former quarterback Cam Newton about attending their wild-card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, Fox). The now-ESPN personality, of course, guided the franchise to its second Super Bowl appearance during the 2015 season, winning league MVP.

He has apparently granted Carolina's request. On X, the Panthers released a clip of the Keep Pounding drum, Newton's voice and his signature font. That signals he'll beat the drum during Saturday's game, and he's mending his strained relationship with the team.

Why Cam Newton attending playoff game is a big deal

Saturday marks Newton's first game at the stadium since the 2021 season, when he re-signed with the team after former starting QB Sam Darnold suffered an injury. He has since avoided attending Panther games because of a perceived dis.

ŠØŪÑD THĒ DRŪM pic.twitter.com/Basvvc0avJ
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 7, 2026

During a 2024 episode of his "4th&1" podcast, Newton said it bothered him that the team didn't invite him to Munich before a game against the New York Giants in November 2024. It didn't leave out other former players, such as Luke Kuechly, Steve Smith Sr. and Julius Peppers.

"Did it hurt my feelings? Yeah, it did." Newton said (h/t CBS Sports' Robby Kalland). "As a man, I'm like [dang] bro, I gave this city everything."

The Panthers have also let other former players, including Ryan Kalil and Greg Olsen, bang the Keep Pounding drum, but not Newton. It seems the franchise realized that was the only way it could convince him to return after he spurned invites to other-team-sponsored events.

He's deserving of the honor. Newton is the only player in team history to win MVP and is the Panthers' all-time leader in passing yards (29,275) and touchdown passes (186).

Perhaps that will give the Panthers good luck in their first home playoff game since the NFC Championship Game during the 2015 season, when they crushed the Arizona Cardinals 49-15. They haven't won a postseason game since that matchup.

It'll also give Newton time to offer Panthers QB Bryce Young some tips, which he can use to help Carolina (8-9) upset L.A. (12-5).

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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