Even before Cameron Jerrell Newton stepped onto an NFL field, we knew the dude was different. How could you not?
6-foot-5. 250 pounds. Threw like he had rocket launcher for an arm. Ran like a gazelle. Oh, and he only carried an entire team, mostly otherwise void of pro-level talent, to a 14-0 record and a National Championship while putting together one of the all-time great Heisman Trophy campaigns.
But it was when he suited up with the Carolina Panthers that we found out he was both different and rare. Newton’s overall mix of talent, skill, athleticism and intangibles gave NFL fans a one-of-kind player they’ve never seen before.
With Newton soon to be traded or more likely released, it’s time to appreciate some of his best work on the field.
Here are 11 moments from Newton during his time in Charlotte that made us say “Wow!”
Running Washington Ragged (2011: Week 7 vs. Washington Redskins)
The 2011 No. 1 overall pick made his presence known immediately, passing for 422 yards in his very first career start—an NFL record for a debut game. As an encore, he threw for 432 yards the next week against the defending champion Green Bay Packers.
That impact continued throughout the year, including on this ridiculous 25-yard run.
Newton ended 2011 as the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, entering the history books with the most passing yards in a rookie season (4,051) and most rushing touchdowns by any quarterback in a season (14).
He was only getting started.
Round and Round We Go (2012: Week 14 vs. Atlanta Falcons)
There’s Newton And there’s Corey Peters, a 6-foot-3, 335-pound defensive lineman. And there’s Newton spinning Corey Peters around like a merry-go-round.
Newton rushed for another 102 yards and a score, while throwing for 287 and two touchdowns in a 30-20 win.
Monday Night Magic (2013: Week 11 vs. New England Patriots)
This was the night the Panthers and their fans knew that had they something special brewing. And this was the play sparked it all.
Newton saved some of his best career ball for Bill Belichick and company, leading Carolina to a 2-0 mark against New England with a combined six touchdowns and 631 yards of total offense.
In the Face of Pressure (2013: Week 16 vs. New Orleans Saints)
That something special was peaking this afternoon. Newton’s 37-yard connection to Ted Ginn Jr. kickstarted a game-winning touchdown drive that catapulted the Panthers to their first of three straight division crowns.
As the pocket collapses with three Saints linemen closing, Newton steps up and chucks a strike to his speedy wideout. This one is for the “Cam’s not a pocket passer” crowd.
Excuse Me (2015: Week 1 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
A sloppy 2014, a season that still ended in another division title, gave way to nearly immaculate 2015 for Carolina. They opened the year in Jacksonville, where Cam delivered a throw that has to be seen in coaches’ film to believe.
The 17-yard completion to Ginn, at initial glance, looks pretty damn good. But, from an another angle, it’s just flat out absurd.
Um . . . what?
Like, how can you even do that with a football?
Excuse Me, Part Deux (2015: Week 14 vs. Atlanta Falcons)
Keeping on the theme of Newton putting some sort of voodoo on the ball, take a few looks at this touchdown. He put a little stank on it and found Ed Dickson from four yards out.
Is that a curveball? Maybe a slider?
Either way, this heat-seeking missile finds its mark.
With the Whole Team on My Back (2015: Week 16 vs. Atlanta Falcons)
If you know anything about Newton and his career in Carolina, you know he’s certainly no stranger to carrying his team on his back. But how about carrying the other team on his back?
Newton has no regard for human life on this run, shaking off eight would-be tacklers to reach the sticks.
While he was initially ruled short of the line to gain, further review would reward Cam with a well-deserved first down.
Even though the Falcons took the Panthers’ ‘0’ from their previously undefeated 14-0 record entering the matchup, Newton made sure to take eight souls before they left the Georgia Dome.
A Frickin’ Laser Beam (2015: Divisional Round vs. Seattle Seahawks)
Cornerback Jeremy Lane and linebacker K.J. Wright do about all they can to stop Greg Olsen. Unfortunately for Seattle, it didn’t get much greater than Newton to Olsen.
Cam puts it only where his dawg can fetch it, giving the Panthers a 31-0 lead and a playoff win over the visiting Seahawks.
On a Dime (2016: Week 11 vs. New Orleans Saints)
This throw has it all. Newton shows off his pocket poise, arm strength and touch in finding Ginn for an insane 40-yard score.
Much like that powerful run against Atlanta, however, this play was just too good to believe. An official replay overturned the initial call of an incompletion and scored in favor of a Panthers touchdown, one that helped send them to a 23-20 primetime win.
That Easy, Huh? (2016: Week 12 vs. Oakland Raiders)
When you’re as athletically gifted as Newton, which you’re probably not because you’re probably in the 99.9 percent of the population that isn’t, you can make plays like this look easy.
He makes this throw that was launched from the 2-yard line and hit Ginn at the opposing 45 (53 yards of air travel), appear effortless—off a flick and a back foot, no less.
Posterization (2017: Week 9 vs. Atlanta Falcons)
If you haven’t figured it out by now, Cam had some of his most impressive runs against his hometown Falcons. His touchdown here was no exception.
Newton leaps into the end zone and literally dunks on cornerback Desmond Trufant. And look at Ginn! He has the right mind to scurry out of the picture so he’s not included in this absolutely nasty posterization.
