Cam Newton, who spent the majority of his 11-year NFL career with the Carolina Panthers, is standing firm on his recent criticism of his former teammates. The first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft described his arrival in Carolina as stepping into a “locker room of losers.” While acknowledging that his comments were “aggressive,” the 2015 NFL MVP insists they are “true.”
During a recent episode of the “4th&1 with Cam Newton” podcast, he questioned, “When did we become so sensitive to really speaking what the reality is? A locker room full of losers? Aggressive, but it’s true.”
Newton made these remarks during an interview with Colorado football star Travis Hunter, where he expressed that Hunter, as a quarterback, has a unique impact on the game. He stated, “I went into a locker room of losers. Just honest. Guys didn’t know how to win, guys didn’t know how to prepare. They didn’t take themselves seriously to realize we were 2-14. There was a lot of 2-14 in the mentality of those guys.”
Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is expected to be a top pick in the upcoming draft, and Newton aimed to provide him with insight into the pressures he might face.
Former teammate Steve Smith responded critically to Newton’s comments, stating, “53 man locker room – 1 = 52 losers. Wow… breaking news to 89.” He later expressed disappointment in Newton’s remarks, saying, “I’ve watched & listened from afar as you talk about the Panthers! None of us are perfect. Yes, we were 2-14 before you blessed us with your presence. The way you have talked about the Panthers lately I’m very disappointed.”
Smith, who played for the Panthers from 2001-2013 and is a finalist for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame, emphasized his discontent with Newton’s comments. In response, Newton clarified that he was referring to the overall culture of the team at the time, not individual players. “I’m not specifically talking about those guys,” he explained. “I’m talking about the culture that was there prior to me coming into the locker room. And it was a losers’ mentality.”
Newton noted that this mentality persisted during his first two seasons, which ended with records of 6-10 and 7-9. However, things began to change in 2013 when the Panthers finished 12-4, eventually reaching the playoffs. The 2015 season saw the team achieve a remarkable 15-1 record and earn a spot in the Super Bowl, although they ultimately lost to the Denver Broncos.
