Cam Newton has been let go by ESPN, according to multiple reports. The former NFL quarterback's departure comes less than a year after he signed a contract extension and was promoted to a more prominent role on the network's "First Take" program.
Newton had served as a debate partner for Stephen A. Smith on "First Take" for the past two years. He was elevated to be Smith's main Monday co-host during football season last year, a position that replaced Shannon Sharpe and coincided with the show's highest-rated day of the week. Newton had signed a multi-year extension with ESPN in August 2025 to expand his responsibilities on the program.
His dismissal is part of a broader round of layoffs at the network, which also included former NFLer Ryan Clark and NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro cited the acquisition of NFL Network assets as a primary driver for the staff reductions. "Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired through ESPN," Pitaro stated in a memo, per Variety. "Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structures to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today."