Cam Newton addresses NFL future, vaccination status

Cam Newton on Sunday posted a video to his YouTube channel titled, “COVID-19 Vaccine & My Career,” in which he confirmed that he wants to continue playing in the NFL.

Newton, 32, is currently an unrestricted free agent. He last played for the New England Patriots, serving as the starting quarterback for the 2020 season. But after the Patriots drafted Mac Jones, who went on to win the starting job, the Patriots cut Newton.

One of the concerns at the time of his release was related to the COVID-19 vaccine, which Newton had not received at the time. He clarified in the video that he has since received the vaccine.

“Hell yeah, I still want to play football,” Newton said. “I have a message that I want to get out. I think the world has been on this judgement round, and I’m just calling people out for what it is. Here recently, just to clear the air, I got the vaccination. And prior to me getting the vaccination — and even after getting the vaccination — I just feel like it’s undue judgement for no reason.”

Following Tom Brady’s departure to Tampa Bay prior to the 2020 season, the Patriots signed Newton, a veteran, to serve as the starting quarterback. Newton last season threw for 2,657 yards with a 65.8 completion percentage, eight touchdowns and ten interceptions.

Newton, the Carolina Panthers’ first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, had a Heisman Trophy-winning senior season with the Auburn Tigers and led the Panthers from one of the NFL’s worst to a 2015 Super Bowl team.

One year later, the Patriots drafted Jones, Alabama’s national championship-winning quarterback, with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jones in 2020 set an NCAA single-season record with a 77.4 completion percentage, coupled with 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2020 but ultimately lost to his teammate, wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

What ensued throughout the Patriots preseason was a bit of a competition between Jones and Newton over the starting job. Ultimately, Jones was selected as the team’s starter, but not without the surprise transaction of releasing Newton entirely, placing Brian Hoyer firmly in the backup role and further solidifying Jones’ role as the starter.

“I still get that urge to go out and perform and do something that I’ve been doing since I was seven years old,” Newton said. “I’m just waiting on the right opportunity. You’re probably thinking to yourself, ‘nobody wants Cam.’ That’s a lie — I’ve been getting offers, but the realization of it is that is has to be right.”