Cam Newton says he still believes he could help an NFL team, and the Atlanta Falcons are the one he keeps circling.
Newton, who hasn’t played since 2021 and becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame next year, has been part of the conversation around players who might still have something left. He’s been mentioned in the same breath as Aaron Donald, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, and the former league MVP clearly doesn’t think his name should be left out.
That became especially pointed with the Falcons, who face the Panthers this week and have been dealing with a messy quarterback situation. Atlanta has not been sold on Michael Penix Jr., who is still not 100% after ACL surgery. The team then signed Tua Tagovailoa after he was cut by the Miami Dolphins, only for Tagovailoa to suffer a likely multi-week oblique injury and force Atlanta to turn to Cooper Rush.
Newton made it clear he noticed the chatter.
"How y'all going to get Drew Brees, who is a year younger than my daddy, and Philip Rivers, [who] is a year younger than my granddaddy, and then y'all overlook me?" he asked incredulously.
He also didn’t hide how he feels about the level of quarterback play in Atlanta right now.
"Cam Newton speaks on fans saying he should’ve gotten a chance with the Falcons“My phone ain’t ring in 5 years… I mean damn I can do better than Cooper Rush!” pic.twitter.com/tjToupy6qr"
Newton did acknowledge that he probably wouldn’t actually take an NFL job at this point, even while insisting he’s still only 37. That puts him well behind Brees and Rivers in age, and he thinks that should matter when people are talking about who can step in and “manage” a team.
"I mean, damn, I can do better than Cooper Rush!" he said.
Of course, there’s a reason no team has called. Rush has stayed in NFL shape and has spent years as a backup, while Newton hasn’t taken a snap in five. Newton also has been open about the fact that he’s highly unlikely to return, and teams aren’t going to reach out just to be polite.
Still, if the scenario had actually come together, Newton would have been in line to start against the Panthers in Week 2 instead of Rush. For Carolina, that would have been a strange sight - one of the franchise’s biggest names suiting up for a rival against the team he once helped make relevant.
In Other News...
Michael Penix Jr Puts Falcons Quarterback Decision Back In Play
Michael Penix Jr. was back as a full participant in practice this week, a notable step for a Falcons quarterback still working through recovery and one that immediately brings the position conversation back into focus. Atlanta had Penix sharing reps with Cooper Rush, a reminder that the quarterback room is very much in motion as the Falcons keep sorting out how they want to handle the position going forward.
The timing matters in a division where every team is watching the margin for error. Across the NFC South, Todd Bowles has already made it clear Baker Mayfield has to be sharper with the football, while Carolina is making roster moves of its own, waiving cornerback Jimmy Horn to open a spot for linebacker Tyrel Dodson. For Atlanta, though, the bigger picture is simpler: Penixs return to full work is putting the Falcons quarterback decision right back in play. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Bigger A.J. Terrell Question Than Expected
A.J. Terrell entered the 2026 season as one of the most trusted pieces of Atlantas defense, but the early returns have made his spot under a brighter light than the Falcons probably expected. In Week 1 against the Steelers, he had a rough afternoon in coverage, with multiple catches allowed and penalties adding to the frustration, and Pro Football Focus had him graded near the bottom among qualified cornerbacks for the game.
Even with those concerns about both health and performance, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has continued to speak in unmistakably strong terms about Terrell, publicly calling him the best boundary corner in the NFL. For Atlanta, that creates a real crossroads: the Falcons still need Terrell to look like a shutdown player, but now they have to balance confidence in his track record against the possibility that the decline is more than just a one-game blip. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Robinson Jr. Is Giving The Falcons A New Decision To Make
Brian Robinson Jr. has already carved out a useful niche for himself since signing a one-year deal with the Falcons, giving the staff a little more flexibility than it had when camp opened. He has worked as both a running back and the primary kick returner, and in the season opener against the Steelers he handled nine carries for 31 rushing yards while also adding 64 kick return yards on two returns.
The more interesting part for Atlanta is what comes next, because the Falcons have been clear that they see him as a versatile fit alongside Bijan Robinson rather than just a depth add. With a meaningful role expected in the coming games, Brian Robinson Jr. is making the kind of case that can force a coaching staff to keep adjusting how it divides the backfield work and special teams duties. [Read more 🡒]