Despite winning the Heisman Trophy in 2010, Cam Newton has not attended the ceremony for 14 years. However, in 2024, Cam set aside his aversion to cheer for Travis Hunter, one of the former players from his C1N program—a 7-on-7 football league.
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Days after the Heisman ceremony, Cam, in his weekly appearance on the 4th & 1 Podcast, reflected on his heartfelt exchange with Deion Sanders during the ceremony. Interestingly, it was the interaction with Coach Prime that made Cam realize the magnitude of his achievement from more than a decade ago.
“I got an opportunity to say what’s up to Coach Prime and Shedeur. And the first thing Coach Prime said was, ‘Man, I am so proud of you. But you ain’t—you won the Heisman. And it doesn’t really hit until you realize not a lot of people can say that they won a Heisman Trophy, which is the most prestigious football award.’”
Meanwhile, Cam also admitted that he didn’t “realize it had been so long since attending the ceremony and that he has been booked and busy.” Proud of his achievement, Cam observed, “Going back to the Heisman makes you realize and get to smell your flowers,” as a nod to himself while adding:
“If you put it into perspective, your favorite football player never won a Heisman. Think about that. With all due respect for all the players that have played—that award cements your legacy in college football. And I said to myself, ‘Dang, that was real.’”
In 2010, Newton earned the titles of SEC Offensive Player of the Year and AP Player of the Year, culminating in a decisive Heisman Trophy victory. He guided the Auburn Tigers to a national championship win against Oregon, marking the school’s first title since 1957.
After this successful season, Newton declared for the NFL Draft, where he was chosen as the first overall pick by the Carolina Panthers. In 2011, he received the NFL Rookie of the Year award.
Reflecting on why he did not attend the Heisman ceremony, Cam revealed on his podcast last week that the Heisman Trust told him that his father, Cecil Newton Sr., “could not come to the ceremony,” owing to NCAA recruting violations, which the former NFL QB took as a sign of disrespect to his family. In addition to this personal reason, Cam’s commitment to the NFL and his busy podcast schedule during December, when the Heisman event is held each year, kept him occupied in the last 14 years.
