Former Auburn star and 2010 Heisman trophy winner Cam Newton is expanding his on-air portfolio and joining the ESPN family long-term. The acclaimed superstar and one-time NFL MVP has made a positive name for himself on the ESPN morning show First Take, and looks to add a new spark.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Newton would be signing a multi-year deal expanding his role on the morning debate show.
“Cam Newton is a unique talent who is authentically himself, and that’s a key ingredient for success on First Take,” reported ESPN Executive Vice President and Executive Editor, David Roberts.
“Cam is also an ultimate team player. All of us at ESPN look forward to watching Cam create a strong connection with his teammates and our fans.”
As news rang in, Newton responded,
“I am excited to be back with the First Take team and share my voice on all things sports. This is an incredible opportunity for me to connect with fans and bring my passion and knowledge to a show I’ve always admired.”
Newton’s opinionated disposition in sports media landed him a permanent position at ESPN, and executives believe he will not disappoint.
“Newton’s past appearances on ESPN have demonstrated that he has an ability coveted by many media executives: Getting under people’s skin in a way that they feel they must react to him, as opposed to ignoring his opinions and moving on with their day,” said Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports.
As for Shannon Sharpe, he was dismissed from the program during the offseason, and his return looks to be nonexistent. He remains a co-host of the Nightcap podcast alongside NFL veteran Chad Ochocinco and recently settled the sexual assault lawsuit brought by his ex-girlfriend.
Looking forward to Newton’s next appearance next Thursday as the show airs live from Norfolk State University as a part of its HBCU tour.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.