Former NFL MVP breaks his silence on brutal ESPN firing months after signing new contract

Former NFL star Cam Newton has broken his silence after becoming the latest casualty of ESPN's brutal round of cuts.

The network is set to announce that several of its top on-air talent is being laid off, with $2m-a-year analyst Ryan Clark and Newton among those to have been let go.

Newton was only handed a new deal by ESPN in August 2025, yet almost six months later the NFL acquired a 10 percent equity stake in the broadcasting company, which received NFL Network and other assets in return.

Now, just one day after his shock exit, the former NFL MVP has spoken out. 

On his YouTube channel on Tuesday, he said: 'If you don't own your platform, you're going to get overlooked, bypassed and be extinct - just like dinosaurs.'

The former Carolina Panthers star also made reference to Emmanuel Acho's firing from Fox Sports - before later finding success with his own show 'Speakeasy'.

Cam Newton on the ESPN Layoffs "I Will NOT Be Going Back to First Take"

Cam Newton and Peggy break down Rex Ryan's latest shot at Shedeur Sanders over an offseason jersey photo shoot and why Cam says the criticism is a flagrant double standard for a backup who still led the NFL in jersey sales. Cam also unpacks Shedeur's viral play breakdown down to the down-and-distance, warns LSU lineman Jordan Seaton about his spending, roasts Cam Skattebo's failed backflip, and finally speaks on the ESPN news surrounding the layoffs. Plus, contract voiding clauses, and why Cam says owning your own platform is the only real job security in sports media. TIMECODES 00:00 – INTRO 3:00 - 1ST DOWN - SHEDEUR SANDERS PLAY CALL AND JERSEY CONTROVERSY 24:48 - ADS - BETTERHELP 26:00 - PEEEGGGGYYYY!!1 32:31 - 2ND DOWN - JORDAN SEATON SPENDING 41:42- FAN QUESTION - SKATTEBOO’S BACKFLIP FAIL 49:21 -  NEWTONS LAW - CAM SPEAKS ON ESPN To stay up to date with the 4th&1 tailgate coming this fall, Visit, https://4thand1tailgate.com/ Visit Betterhelp.com/Fourth to get 10% off your first month free Want more Content?? Funky Friday @CamNewton More Cam Newton (Gaming) @MoreCamNewton Follow 4th&1 on Social! Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@4thand1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4thand1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/4thand1show Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/4thand1 Follow Cam Newton on Social! Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/meandallmyk1ds Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cameron1newton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cam Twitter: https://twitter.com/CameronNewton/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CamJNewton2/ Shop all my handmade hats: https://bit.ly/MeshikaShop Executive Producer: Cam Newton Produced/Directed By: Omari Collins / Peggy https://www.instagram.com/ogcollins Camera & Editor: Jim Larson https://www.instagram.com/jjgunnar Thumbnail & Editor: David Martin https://www.instagram.com/haveagooddavid Production: Iconic Saga http://bit.ly/IconicSagaInstagram

YouTube • 4th&1 With Cam Newton

Newton does in fact have his own shows - including podcasts '4th&1' and 'Funky Fridays' - and revealed he plans to put his full focus into them. 

He also explained that he is more passionate about his personal projects than he was with ESPN. He insisted that working for a network of that size, you are 'trying to execute it how they want you to exist,' instead of being yourself.

He later added: 'You cannot, you will not, make me hate my experience with ESPN.

'I did not have that education. I am a former athlete that did not study journalism when I had the opportunity to study it.

'So now when you see certain things and you analyze and you start to say like this is how production works, you'd be a fool not to take your notes.'

Last season the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback was elevated by ESPN to replace Shannon Sharpe as Smith's main co-host on Monday's edition of the morning sports talk show, which is its highest-rated day of the week. 

It is believed the company will now search for a permanent replacement for him on Monday's First Take broadcasts.

Newton had a slight falling out with Smith, who has become the face of ESPN's sports coverage in recent years, back in the spring after the ex-Carolina Panthers signal caller invited Jason Whitlock onto his podcast.

Given there is no love lost between him and Whitlock, Smith hit out at his First Take colleague for not defending him when his arch-nemesis accused him of lying in his 2023 memoir.

In a memo sent to staffers this week, which was obtained by Awful Announcing, ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro said they have been forced to make 'difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today' as part of restructuring in light of the NFL deal.

The full memo reads: 'Team: Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN. Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today.

'While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted. We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition. Even in moments like these, the strength of ESPN comes from our people, our teamwork and our shared mission to serve sports fans.'

Despite promising to treat employees with 'compassion and respect' in the process, The Athletic's Andrew Marchand claims that Ryan Clark found out he was being laid off while he was in the middle of taping 'NFL Live' on Monday afternoon.