Former New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton surprised ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith when asked if he’d trade in his NFL MVP award for a Super Bowl win.
“No,” Newton bluntly responded on ESPN’s “First Take.” “…What’s more important—impact or championships? …Everybody’s not going to be Michael Jordan. Everybody’s not going to be Patrick Mahomes. Everybody’s not going to be these individuals who have the luxury of saying, ‘Hey, I not only dominated this sport, but I also have championships that back it.’”
“Let me remind you, Brad Johnson won a Super Bowl. Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl. Respectfully, Nick Foles won a Super Bowl.”
Stephen A. Smith: “Cam, if you could give back that league MVP for a Super Bowl championship, would you do it?”
Cam Newton: “No.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/x9XspwR7kh
— First Take (@FirstTake) January 30, 2025
Newton’s response drew significant backlash on social media from those placing team accomplishments over individual accolades. The former All-Pro quarterback was simply giving his personal opinion on the matter, and he has every right to feel that way.
But at the same time, people have a right to their own opinions. Here’s what was being said about Newton’s comments on social media: