SerpApi.Org
Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was one of the employees laid off by ESPN on Tuesday and finally spoke out about the decision and what comes next for his on-screen career.
ESPN announced multiple lay offs on Tuesday, including the firing of former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. Newton was a recurring analyst on ESPN's “First Take” alongside Stephen A. Smith during the NFL season and signed a muti-year deal with the network back in 2025 that would expand his on-screen role.
However, the network underwent major changes this week, parting ways with multiple employees, including NFL insider Tom Pelissero and former NFL safety Ryan Clark.
Newton joined ESPN back in 2024 and seemed like he would be an instant hit given his viral personality. On Wednesday, Newton spoke out for the first time since the news was announced and shared more appreciation than bad blood for the company’s decision.
Cam Newton speaks out after ESPN lay off
“Working alongside some of the most talented journalists and sports individuals that cover sports was something that got me to realize I have a newfound respect for the skill,” Newton said. “You can’t make me hate ESPN. What I’ve learned, it was an internship. I am a former athlete that did not study journalism, so now when you see how production actually works, you’ll be a fool not to take your notes.”
Newton’s comments came from Wednesday’s episode on his “4th & 1” show on YouTube, a sign that he’s not going anywhere when it comes to being in front of the camera and sharing his opinions.
“If you don’t own your own platform, you’re gonna get overlooked, bypassed, and be extinct like dinosaurs,” Newton added. “It’s unfortunate what happened to Ryan Clark, but what I will tell you is this: Ryan Clark gonna be OK. ‘The Pivot’ ain’t going nowhere. It’s unfortunate what happened to me - some would think - but I’m good. I got ‘4th & 1.’ I ain’t going nowhere.”
Newton had plenty of controversial moments during his time on ESPN, and with the company onboarding new talent after acquiring NFL Network, the timing was right for the two sides to part ways.
“Sometimes retired could be very sketchy because they can force you to - their terms is, ‘Hey, where the company is going, you don’t align with it,'” Newton said. “And that’s still cool. Bro, I’m a professional at what I do.”
Getting laid off is always a challenging situation to deal with as a professional in any industry. Newton is taking the right approach by respecting the decision and moving on. Time will tell whether another network decides to bring on the former MVP or if he decides to continue focusing on building his own brand.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Panthers legend Cam Newton sends clear message after ESPN firing and it says plenty about what comes next
© 2026 A to Z Sports.
