Skip to content

The Undefeated

Navigation

  • Sports
  • Culture
  • HBCU
  • Video
  • ESPN

Menu

  • Sports
  • Culture
  • HBCU
  • Video
  • The Uplift
  • What Had Happened Was
  • Commentary
  • Contributors
  • Rhoden Fellows
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletters
  • About
Facebook Twitter ESPN
Style

Cam Newton: Style Starchild

The Panthers’ QB was in the far ends of the fashion galaxy every time he stepped to the mic

The Undefeated
View 14 photos
Jill Hudson By Jill Hudson @ESPNStyleWriter
January 4, 2017
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

It’s been said that it takes a big man to be a true rebel. Enter one Cam Newton, the Carolina Panthers’ QB who is actually big and rebellious. Not to take anything away from Colin Kaepernick, but Newton may just be the bravest player in the NFL. Sure Kaepernick’s on-field protests during the playing of the National Anthem stood for something – the issue of African Americans’ disenfranchisement at the hands of law enforcement – that will be remembered for generations.

But know what else will also be remembered, argued about and mawed over for years to come? That after having the worst season of his pro career, Newton is now best known for his — how shall we say? — idiosyncratic postgame press conference fashion choices. His team, the formerly great Carolina Panthers, finished the NFL season on New Year’s Day with a shameful seat at the bottom of the NFC South. Newton’s 2015 NFL MVP Award and his exuberant dabbing celebrations seem like distant memories. After this dismal season, what image comes to mind when Cam’s name is mentioned? A glum-looking guy standing at a news podium dressed in a Broadway costume designer’s idea of a “chic” outfit. Glitter and feathers and fur, oh my! Worn by a pro athlete. A black pro athlete. Every single week. Now that’s brave!

Newton has never been a shrinking fashion flower, thank God. For the past several seasons, Newton has kept up a Westbrookian pace with his off-field dressing ideas. And like Russell Westbrook, Newton is known as his league’s most adventurous style guy. He’s tried every kind of millionaire diesel jock look imaginable: conservative businessman, Playboy mansion cat daddy, Harlem Black Dandy, Kentucky Derby preppy hero, and strip club kingpin.

He tried every kind of millionaire diesel jock look imaginable: conservative businessman, Playboy Mansion cat daddy, Harlem Black Dandy, Kentucky Derby preppy hero, and strip club kingpin.

Newton has always been a charismatic presence in a pressroom. Tall, handsome and extremely confident, Cam is now a bonafide master of the quirky fashion curveball. Before the Panthers’ soul-crushing Super Bowl 50 defeat to the Denver Broncos last February, his news conference clothes always revolved around one – and usually only one – blinged-out centerpiece item: a smartly tailored suit jacket in navy camouflage print, a brightly-colored pair of slip-on shoes done up in sparkles or spikes, or retro flourishes like leather floral boutonnieres. There was even a hallelujah moment when the Atlanta native wore a footlong foxtail clipped onto his skinny jeans. Pretty daring and fun.

This season, though, Big Cam took things all the way up. While his team was losing games to squads the Panthers had previously dominated and Newton was taking a pounding on the field, he showed up to his press conferences wearing outrageously flamboyant things bought, as my mother used to say, “somewhere out around Robin Hood’s barn” (that is not a compliment in Weldon, North Carolina, believe me). But let’s give a shout out to the man’s accessories closet, which is now legendary. There’s the custom ten-gallon hat collection that managed to out-do Pharrell Williams’ famous Arby’s topper, patterned scarves worn with Parisian flair, and a huge collection of Sunday-go-to-meeting shoes and sneakers. Newton wore beautiful suits, but he also sported oversized mimosa brunch cardigans and wife-beater t-shirts. Add the blond-tipped goatee and a pair of Mr. Magoo eyeglasses, and Twitter automatically had a week’s worth of hilarious “Your boy is tripping!” social media material.

What’s 🔥 Right Now



When Ali-Frazier made America choose sides Read now



Billie Holiday deserves better Read now



NBA’s support of HBCUs was the main event at All-Star Weekend Read now

Of course, Newton knew what he was doing. He’s as media-savvy, wily and self-aware as they come, and he surely could count on the social media dragging that was sure to come after every game. As the 27-year-old athletic prodigy fell deeper into the choking trenches of a very bad season (the Panthers finished with a disappointing 6-10 record), he hit back in the best way possible: by becoming a flamboyant dandy who could not be held or broken by anyone’s standards but his own.

But instead of cowering or playing it safe in an Under Armour tracksuit, Newton took agency in the way proud black folks can. He put on his big boy ruby slippers and dug in. You’d better believe there was method in the Newton madness. “Y’all gonna be mad no matter what I do, so I may as well give you something ELSE to be angry about,” seemed to be the thinking. Or something very close to it. So, the hats got bigger each week, the clothing mixes became more eccentric (a favorite was his slave-in-a-cotton-field get-up) and the look on Newton’s face? Just a beat shy from being a shade-throwing eye roll.

Beyoncé may have said, “Best revenge is your paper,” but Newton spiraled that lyric into the proverbial fan. So thank you, Cam Newton, for the best sleight of hand postgame middle finger in NFL history. Can’t wait for next season.

View List Grid
  • Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton walks out of a news conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Los Angeles. The Panthers won 13-10.
    Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton walks out of a news conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Los Angeles. The Panthers won 13-10.
  • Quarterback Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers addresses the media following their 21-20 loss to the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field Field at Mile High on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado.
    Quarterback Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers addresses the media following their 21-20 loss to the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field Field at Mile High on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado.
  • Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. The Vikings won 22-10.
    Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. The Vikings won 22-10.
  • Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton talks to the media after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. The Panthers won 46-27.
    Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton talks to the media after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. The Panthers won 46-27.
  • Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton enters the interview room after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016.
    Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton enters the interview room after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016.
  • Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton listens to reporter's question during a press conference following an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016. The Chiefs won 20-17.
    Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton listens to reporter's question during a press conference following an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016. The Chiefs won 20-17.
  • Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Nov. 18, 2016.
    Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Nov. 18, 2016.
  • Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton leaves a news conference after an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016. The Raiders won 35-32.
    Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton leaves a news conference after an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016. The Raiders won 35-32.
  • Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton wears a black coat and hat as he talks with reporters during a post-game news conference after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 40-7.
    Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton wears a black coat and hat as he talks with reporters during a post-game news conference after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 40-7.
  • Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton smiles at reporters' questions following an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. The Panthers won 28-16.
    Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton smiles at reporters' questions following an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. The Panthers won 28-16.
  • Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton wears a hat in honor of Craig Sager as he arrives for a post game press conference after a NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. The Panthers defeated the Redskins 26-15.
    Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton wears a hat in honor of Craig Sager as he arrives for a post game press conference after a NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. The Panthers defeated the Redskins 26-15.
  • Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. The Falcons won 33-16.
    Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. The Falcons won 33-16.
  • Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers answer questions from the media after the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Panthers 17-16.
    Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers answer questions from the media after the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Panthers 17-16.
  • Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton participates in a post game press conference after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016.
    Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton participates in a post game press conference after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016.
Filed Under: NFL Style Cam Newton Carolina Panthers
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Latest Stories

Boxer Ali Dodging a Punch From Frazier Sports

Ali-Frazier was more than a fight, it was part of my awakening as a Black man

As a college student, I was fighting to find my place in a changing world

By William C. Rhoden
2021 70th NBA All-Star Game Sports

NBA’s support of HBCUs was the main event at All-Star Weekend

‘It was a great experience to be able to put HBCUs on the map’

By Marc J. Spears
Ali Frazier lede 16×9 Sports

When Ali-Frazier made America choose sides

Fifty years ago, a boxing match captivated the world

By Branson Wright
  • Sports
  • Culture
  • HBCU
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Masthead
  • About
Twitter Facebook

Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights/Do Not Sell My Info/Children's Online Privacy Policy are applicable to you.

© 2021 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved. Interest-Based Ads. Cookie Policy. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. About Nielsen Measurement.

Get The Undefeated Today newsletter

The latest and best from The Undefeated — straight to your inbox

You are now subscribed!

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.