Cam Newton Set to Make Special Appearance in Carolina for Panthers’ First Home Playoff Game in 10 Years

Cam Newton will sound the drum at Bank of America Stadium in Carolina on Saturday to kickoff the 2025 wildcard game between the Panthers and the Rams.

Cam Newton Set to Make Special Appearance in Carolina for Panthers’ First Home Playoff Game in 10 Years

Cam Newton and Bryce Young inside the circle (Image via IMAGO)

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Cam Newton is returning to the Carolina Panthers. Don’t be too alarmed. The Panthers aren’t releasing Bryce Young or making Newton his backup for Saturday’s wildcard game against the Los Angeles Rams. Newton will be the guest of honor and will beat the drum before kickoff at Bank of America Stadium.

Last Sunday, the Panthers pulled off an unlikely escape from the NFC South. Young, Tetairoa McMillan, and Rico Dowdle seemed destined to watch the playoffs from home after falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the season’s final day.

The result left the Panthers stuck between a rock and a hard place. Only a win by the Atlanta Falcons over the New Orleans Saints could have saved their season. The Falcons won, and the Panthers leaped over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the division and set up a wildcard fixture against the 12-5 Rams.

It ended the Panthers’ eight-year hiatus from postseason football. However, their most recent playoff win was in the 2015 NFC title game, where they defeated the Cardinals 49-15, and the quarterback of the Panthers was Cam Newton.

Everyone remembers Newton’s infamous Super Bowl 50 moment. Newton became a meme after he didn’t dive on the loose ball that handed the Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning the win.

There are very few who can call themselves true Carolina legends. Sam Mills, Steve Smith Sr., and Luke Kuechly do make excellent cases to be called the greatest Panthers ever, but Newton might have something to say about that. He led the team to a Super Bowl after capping off an MVP season.

The Panthers are set to welcome back a legend. Newton has been chosen to beat the drum as the NFL kicks off the 2025-26 playoffs.

Are Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers on good terms?

Newton and the Panthers organization didn’t part on good terms. On a recent episode of his podcast, the 36-year-old shared his surprise at finding no mention of him at the Panthers’ facility when he visited with his son. The experience stung deeply, leaving him feeling not only disrespected but also diminished in his son’s eyes. Newton said on the 4th & 1 podcast:

Who brought it to my attention? My son. So as a man, when you have to explain to your son, ‘Daddy, where’s your picture?‘

Cam Newton Set to Make Special Appearance in Carolina for Panthers' First Home Playoff Game in 10 Years
Cam Newton (Image via IMAGO)

Newton has yet to announce his retirement from football. However, the NFLP considers him one as he last played in an official NFL game during the 2021 season. Newton said:

At this particular point in time, the question was ‘Oh, we don’t know if Cam’s retired yet.’ News flash—I’m never gonna retire. I know I’ve played my last piece of football. It doesn’t matter to me to officially retire. I’m in a happy place.

That being said, he was a little upset when the Indianapolis Colts chose to sign 44-year-old retired Philip Rivers instead of someone like him, who had been openly expressing interest in making a comeback. At least, he will be back in Carolina on Saturday.

Young will play in his first playoff game in his third year with the Panthers. After just seven wins in the first two seasons, Young led the Panthers to an 8-9 finish. It was enough for them to secure the NFC fourth seed and a home tie against the Rams.

According to the latest Vegas odds, the Panthers are massive underdogs. However, it will take a lot to scare Dave Canales. He’s very excited to manage the first-ever playoff game of his head coaching career. Canales said:

I’m sure they have algorithms for us. We’ve just got to worry about playing our best football. That’s been the pursuit.

Canales has every right to be confident. In week 13, the Panthers’ defense forced two turnovers out of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Young, on the other hand, had three touchdowns and 75% pass completion rate. Moreover, the Panthers have a 14-10 all-time record against the Rams, including a playoff win in 2003.

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