Cam Newton may be making headlines this week for his high-profile move to ESPN, but not everyone is celebrating the former MVP’s transition into sports media.
Comedian and cultural commentator T.K. Kirkland recently weighed in on Newton’s NFL exit, suggesting that the quarterback’s downfall wasn’t due to the league or declining skills, but rather his own ego.
Did Cam Newton fumbled his career?
Newton, who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021, is set to join ESPN’s First Take as a regular contributor.
The announcement came with Newton promising to bring “passion and energy” to the show, adding that fans can expect “real talk, bold takes, and good fun.”
But Kirkland, speaking on the Get Got podcast, used the timing to highlight what he sees as a pattern among African American quarterbacks.
“Most of them sabotage their career,”Kirkland said.
“They thought they was bigger than the team.”
Kirkland singled out Newton as a prime example, criticizing his inability to embrace humility and teamwork.
“I think the Cam Newtons and them could’ve still been playing, but they sabotage their careers because of ego. Sometimes it can’t be about you, it has to be humbleness, it has to be respect.”
The critique echoes Newton’s own past remarks.
During a 2023 press appearance, he said, “I scare people… Because you can’t control me. I’m not a puppet. I cut them strings off a long time ago.”
His recent comments on First Take, where he stated he wouldn’t trade his MVP for a Super Bowl ring, only added fuel to the fire.
“I’m taking individual success because I did my job,” he said, sparking backlash among fans who felt he placed self over team.
While Newton’s career decline involved on-field struggles, including a 61.9% completion rate and poor touchdown-to-interception ratios in his final years, Kirkland believes attitude played a decisive role.
Despite flashes of brilliance, Newton’s larger-than-life persona may have worked against him in a league that often values compliance over charisma.
Now 35, Newton is embracing life after football with a growing media presence.
But for critics like Kirkland, the message remains: ego might have sidelined one of the game’s most dynamic talents long before his time was up.
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