Cam Newton was not the first black quarterback to find success in the NFL. He has become a role model for a new generation of them, though. Watch Texans star Deshaun Watson talk about Newton serving as an inspiration for him and other young black QBs.
Watson had a phenomenal season for Houston in his third year in the pros, posting 3,852 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and a playoff win despite having to overcome some woeful coaching by Bill O’Brien. He added another 413 yards and seven scores with his legs.
Watson was part of a seismic shift that happened at the game’s most important position last season. Passers that have dominated the league over the last decade-plus ran into some serious turbulence. Drew Brees and Tom Brady both suffered early playoff exits, Philip Rivers’ level of play fell off in a bad way, Eli Manning was benched and is now retired. Even Aaron Rodgers began to show some signs of decline.
Meanwhile, Watson and a handful of other black QBs – led most notably by league MVP Lamar Jackson and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes – ascended to the next level. It’s clear that this group of QBs (throw in Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott) is ahead of the pack and will likely be competing with eachother for rings and MVPs for at least the next several years.
Our official 2020 QB rankings will be coming out later this month, and it’s clear from the early glances just how much the balance of power has shifted to the younger generation.
So, where does Cam Newton fit into this picture?
It’s tough to tell right now. He’s only been healthy for about eight games over the last two seasons. We also don’t know where he’ll be playing. He still has one year left on his contract and Newton says he’s “absolutely” sure” he will return to the Panthers, but there’s been an ominous silence from the front office on this point.
