Cam Newton Says He Would Not Trade His MVP Award For A Super Bowl Championship

In 2015, Cam Newton led the Carolina Panthers to an impressive 15-1 record and advanced to Super Bowl 50, where they were defeated by the Denver Broncos. Although he fell just short of winning the Lombardi Trophy and a championship ring, Newton did walk away with an MVP Award and shared recently that if given a chance he’d pick the MVP title over the Super Bowl ring.

He appeared on First Take and he was asked if he could give back the MVP for a Super Bowl championship. To which he said, “No.” Newton said he would prefer his status as a player who made a great impact on the NFL than to be someone who played in a great team but could not build a remarkable career.

"I ask you this question, just to pose this thought: What's more important, impact or championships? You look at a guy like Allen Iverson … everybody's not going to be Michael Jordan, everybody's not going to be Patrick Mahomes. Everybody's not going to be the individuals who have the luxury of saying, 'I not only dominated this sport, but I also have championships to back it up,’” he said.
Newton revealed that he ultimately wants to be judged on what he accomplished, and not on how his teammates fared, which often happens when a team wins Super Bowl. “I know that’s not the popular pick,” Newton said. “My take is I’m taking individual success because I did my job.”
Newton was selected in the 2011 draft and spent his career with the Panthers until 2019. He then played for the New England Patriots in 2020 before returning to Carolina in 2021 to conclude his career where it began. Throughout his time in the league, he garnered numerous individual honours, including Offensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, an All-Pro season, three Pro Bowl selections, and the MVP award.