"I didn't think he was better than me": Cam Newton gets honest on losing QB1 job to Mac Jones under Bill Belichick at Patriots

After starting his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots in 2020. That season as a starter, he led them to a 7-9 record while finishing third in the AFC East.

A year later, the Patriots drafted Mac Jones with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. In August 2021, Cam Newton was released by the team during the final roster cut.

During an interview with Jamele Hill, the ex-quarterback was questioned why he quit playing after 11 seasons in the league. She then asked if Cam Newton would continue to play if he had to serve in the backup role on the depth chart. The 2015 NFL MVP responded by talking about his release from the Patriots after Mac Jones' arrival.

"My personality is too big," Newton said. "Do I think I could still play? Yeah, hell yeah.

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"No (I would not play if I was not a starter). "If I would compete. If I could play if I got beat out. That right be could be like, 'dawg, he is good.' Like, Mac Jones for me. I knew Mac Jones was good. I didn't think he was better than me. I think he had more grace than me because of the cicumstance. I didn't have a whole off-season. I didn't know the system. I was still learning the playbook in week six, seven, eight all the way throughout the whole season. "And it was extremely difficult and I just felt that my physical being and my knowledge of the game that I knew at that particular point was going to get me over the hump and I did not give enough credit to the circumstance that I would be asked to be in."

While Cam Newton has not officially retired, he has not been on the gridiron since 2021 during his second stint with the Panthers. In 11 seasons, he recorded 32,382 yards and 194 TDs passing.

Mac Jones, on the other hand, was traded to the Jaguars in 2024. In March, he agreed to a two-year deal worth $7 million with the San Francisco 49ers and served as a starter in a few games during Brock Purdy's injury. In 10 games, Jones has tallied 2,151 yards and 13 TDs passing.

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Cam Newton gets real on the Colts signing 44-year-old Philip Rivers

After injury concerns in their quarterback department, the Colts decided to unretire veteran Philip Rivers and named him as the starter ahead of their Week 15 showdown against the Seahawks.

However, Cam Newton was not happy with this decision. On Wednesday, on the "4th & 1" podcast, he expressed his disappointment that the Colts did not bother reaching out to him instead of Rivers.

"It's almost like a slap in my face, I'm not even gonna lie," Newton said. "I did not and will not retire because of an opportunity like this! Did Philip Rivers send any type of signs that he is available? He's 44 years old, bro! How come you keep holding Cam Newton to a standard that you're not holding everybody else to?"

The Colts are third in the AFC South with an 8-5 record. They take on the Seahawks on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.

Edited by Priyam Hazarika