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Auburn retiring Cam Newton’s number, honoring Heisman legend

Justin Hokansonby: Justin Hokanson08/18/25_JHokanson
Cam Newton (Photo by USA Today)
Cam Newton (Photo by USA Today)

AUBURN — Auburn will officially retire Cam Newton’s No. 2 jersey number this season. The school announced the move on Monday morning via social media.

The recognition will take place on Oct. 11, when the Tigers host rival Georgia.

“Auburn will always be home to me,” Newton said. “The national championship we won in 2010 was a special moment, and to have my jersey retired alongside legends like Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson, and Terry Beasley is an incredible honor that I’ll cherish forever. War Eagle!”

He will be the fourth player to have his number retired in program history, joining Bo Jackson, Pat Sullivan and Terry Beasley. Newton, Jackson and Sullivan, of course, are Auburn’s three Heisman Trophy winners.

“Cam Newton not only led Auburn to a national championship in 2010, but he produced one of the most prolific seasons ever by a college football player,” Auburn athletics director John Cohen said. “Retiring Cam’s jersey number is a fitting way to celebrate his lasting impact on Auburn University and Auburn Athletics for all time.” 

Newton led the Tigers to a 14-0 record and 2010 SEC Championship and BCS National Championship.

He was a consensus All-American. He also won the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award, and was named AP Player of the Year.

“Cam is one of the greatest players to wear an Auburn uniform and it is only fitting that he has his No. 2 jersey retired,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said. “We look forward to honoring and celebrating Cam this season with this much-deserved recognition.”

During the 2010 season, he completed over 66 percent of his passes for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns. Newton rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass for good measure.

Newton was the first player in SEC history to pass for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season. His single-season rushing total is still the most by a quarterback in SEC history. He topped 150 rushing yards five times during conference play, including a whopping 217 yards against No. 6 LSU.

Newton engineered the largest comeback in program history, erasing a 24-0 deficit at Alabama. The Tigers won 28-27 behind Newton’s 255 total yards and four touchdowns. In the SEC title game, Newton accounted for 408 total yards and six touchdowns, as the Tigers beat South Carolina 56-17. Newton capped the season accumulating 329 total yards and two scores, as Auburn beat Oregon, 22-19, for the national title.

Newton was recently named the third-best college football player in the 21st century by ESPN. And fellow Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel recently called Newton’s historic season the best individual campaign by a college football player of all time.

“What I’ve been able to do, especially now in my life, has been able to say, ‘I got everything from football.’ I’m good with my résumé,” Newton said in response. “I don’t have to always speak about what I’ve done, but more or less feel vindicated because of the effort that I put into it when nobody saw.”

Newton is nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame class of 2026. It’s his first time appearing on the ballot since becoming eligible in 2021.

Newton enjoyed an 11-year NFL career, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2011. In 2015, he earned NFL Most Valuable Player and led the Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl 50. Newton holds the franchise records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, and rushing touchdowns, leading Carolina to four playoff appearances and three division titles. His 75 rushing touchdowns remain the most ever by a quarterback in NFL history.

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