10 things Patriots fans probably don’t already know about Cam Newton

Patriots fans have a lot to learn about Cam Newton.

Cam Newton is a solidified household name in the NFL.

The New England Patriots quarterback brought his former team to the Super Bowl and put together an MVP season. He’s widely known for his fashion, charisma and pure dominance on the football field. Newton’s personality is just as big as his 6-foot-5, 245 pound frame.

Watching him grow from Auburn to the Carolina Panthers, many people feel as if they know the real Newton. But, there are many stories and moments throughout his career that haven’t got as much media attention. Newton is more than just a flashy quarterback who has an eclectic wardrobe — he’s a caring person who prides himself on charitable acts.

Here are ten things Patriots fans probably didn’t know about their new quarterback.

He became a vegan in 2019

Newton initiated his food restrictions after becoming a pescatarian in 2013. He took that to the next level in 2019 after deciding he’d become a vegan. Many argued that his dietary decisions affected his overall play at the start of the 2019 season — but, it turned out to be a foot injury.

Newton graduated from Auburn in 2015

Despite getting drafted to the NFL in 2011, Newton continued working on his sociology degree. He worked on his classwork throughout the first few years of his career and earned his degree during the same year he was named the NFL MVP.

Newton grew up in Atlanta

Newton’s name became synonymous with the city of Charlotte after spending his career with the Panthers. He was also known as the quarterback for Florida and Auburn — keeping his Atlanta roots obscure. He was a five-star prospect out of Westlake High School and he even went back to open some restaurants in his hometown.

He played behind Tim Tebow at Florida

This might be common knowledge to some, but it’s wild to think that Newton was Tim Tebow’s backup as a freshman at Florida. Newton sustained an injury his sophomore season and was redshirted — eventually choosing Auburn in 2010.

Controversy surrounded him at Florida

Newton’s decision to transfer to Auburn primarily came from a difficult day on November 21, 2008. He was charged with felony counts of burglary, larceny and obstruction of justice after the alleged theft of a laptop.

He said he was unaware the laptop was already stolen when he bought it. Newton missed out on serious trouble after completing a pretrial intervention program for first-time offenders. Florida suspended him and he announced the transfer to Auburn three days before the Gators won a national championship.

He had a historical year in 2011

Breaking rushing records, winning the MVP and taking his team to a Super Bowl were all incredible feats. But, it’s hard to top the year of 2011, when he won the Heisman Trophy, won a national championship and was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick. Very few professional football players get to enjoy any of those three moments.

Newton is undefeated against the Patriots

There is a small handful of quarterbacks with a winning record against Bill Belichick, and Newton is one of them. Newton won both matchups he had against New England, while averaging an 128.2 passer rating and 9.2 yards per passing attempt. Belichick couldn’t figure a way to stop him and now he added him to the team.

His father and brother played in the NFL

The odds to make the NFL are extremely slim, but it appears to be much easier if a player had family members in the league before. Newton’s father, Cecil Newton Sr, spent time in the pre-season with two NFL teams. His younger brother, Cecil Newton Jr, was an offensive lineman for a stint with the Baltimore Ravens.

He demolished records his rookie season

Newton is oftentimes known for his insane size and freakish ability to rush the football, but running the football wasn’t the only factor to help him win rookie of the year. He became the first quarterback with 4,000+ passing yards, 500+ rushing yards and 10+ rushing touchdowns in a season. He was the first rookie to throw 400+ yards in his NFL debut and he finished the season with 21 touchdowns through the air.

He’s always made great efforts for his community

Newton became a pillar in Charlotte. He was the incredible quarterback that completely changed the organization, but he also spent a majority of his time doing charitable work. He began the Cam Newton Foundation in 2012 — providing over $5 million in grant funding and hosting yearly charitable events for the youth.

This article dives a little further into all the acts of kindness he’s displayed since joining the NFL. Newton is the furthest thing from selfish and his infatuation with fashion has somehow egged this narrative on.

Here’s a few videos to exhibit his relationship with the community.

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