Cam Newton may have been eager to do anything for a Super Bowl championship, but he firmly rejects the idea of trading his NFL MVP award for that coveted ring. On Thursday morning, ESPN’s First Take engaged in a discussion about Lamar Jackson’s MVP-caliber season versus Jalen Hurts’ Super Bowl appearance, leading Stephen A. Smith to pose a question to Newton.
“We’ve got a former league MVP right now on the set in Cam,” Smith began. “I ask you right now, Cam. If you could give back that league MVP for a Super Bowl championship, would you do it?”
“No,” Newton replied bluntly. “That was a very journalistic viewpoint, Stephen A. I’ll ask you this question: what’s more important, impact or championships?”
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/b1wVO2i7Nh
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 30, 2025
“Let me remind you, Brad Johnson won a Super Bowl. Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl. Respectfully, Nick Foles won a Super Bowl. So when you look at those guys and ask, ‘Would you have preferred to win a Super Bowl?’ I think that’s the humble approach. But let’s be honest, the impact of holding yourself accountable as an MVP or an All-American means you’ve done your part. I’m not trying to be popular—I value individual success because I did my job. Football requires 11 guys doing one job, not one guy trying to do all 11.” This could reflect a way of coping with the loss in Super Bowl 50, but it also inadvertently undermines the contributions of his teammates.
Judging by Smith’s reaction, he anticipated a more team-oriented response from Newton. Credit Newton for his honesty, as he’s aware that his stance isn’t the popular one. However, his claim of not trying to seek popularity while prioritizing individual accolades over team success does come across as somewhat hypocritical. If individual success matters that much to him, it’s likely he also values fame and recognition.
While it makes sense for Newton to assert he wouldn’t trade his career for Trent Dilfer’s, the same goes for Dan Marino regarding Brad Johnson. But if you merely swapped their honors—like exchanging an MVP award for a Super Bowl ring—it’s surprising to hear Newton say no.
