{"id":394240,"date":"2026-01-08T01:53:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T01:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/394240\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T01:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T01:53:08","slug":"keep-pounding-with-cam-newton-its-happening-at-panthers-playoff-game-vs-rams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/394240\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep Pounding with Cam Newton? It\u2019s happening at Panthers\u2019 playoff game vs. Rams"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHARLOTTE, N.C. \u2014 The Carolina Panthers will host their first playoff game in 10 years Saturday at Bank of America Stadium, and the quarterback who helped the Panthers clinch a Super Bowl berth that day will be in the building.<\/p>\n

The Panthers reached out to Cam Newton about beating the Keep Pounding drum before their NFC wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams. They were optimistic that the most iconic player in franchise history would attend, according to sources familiar with the discussions.<\/p>\n

Later Wednesday, the Panthers confirmed Newton as the drummer with a post on X featuring the Keep Pounding drum, Newton\u2019s voice and his unique font.<\/p>\n

\u0160\u00d8\u016a\u00d1D TH\u0112 DR\u016aM pic.twitter.com\/Basvvc0avJ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

It will be Newton\u2019s first game at the stadium since 2021, when he re-signed with the Panthers late in the season following an injury to Sam Darnold. It also could represent a thawing of the chilly relationship between Newton and the franchise<\/a> that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2011.<\/p>\n

The Panthers have brought back several players from the 2015 Super Bowl team this season to hit the trademark drum, including Greg Olsen, Jordan Gross and Ryan Kalil. Fans took to social media this week to lobby for Newton to serve as the Keep Pounding drummer for the Panthers\u2019 first home playoff game since their 49-15 rout of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFC Championship Game.<\/p>\n

Newton\u2019s presence Saturday will add to what will feel like an unofficial 10-year reunion for the 2015 team, which lost to the Denver Broncos 24-10 in Super Bowl 50. Olsen will be in the stadium as part of Fox\u2019s broadcast team, while Luke Kuechly will be a couple of booths down calling the game for the Panthers\u2019 radio network.<\/p>\n

Newton became the only Panther to win NFL MVP when he led Carolina to a 15-1 regular-season record and a trip to the Super Bowl in the 2015-16 season. After two stints with the team, he finished as Carolina\u2019s all-time leader in multiple passing categories, including passing yards (29,725), passing TDs (186) and rushing touchdowns (63).<\/p>\n

Newton\u2019s rift with the organization became public in 2024 after the Panthers\u2019 game in Munich. On his \u201c4th&1\u2033 podcast, Newton said he was hurt that team officials didn\u2019t invite him to Germany as they did other retired players like Kuechly, Steve Smith and Julius Peppers, who made appearances at fan functions in the days leading to the game against the New York Giants.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid it hurt my feelings? Yeah, it did,\u201d Newton said at the time. \u201cAs a man, I\u2019m like, damn bro, I gave this city everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newton said on the same pod he has \u201cno quarrel\u201d with David Tepper, the hedge-fund billionaire who bought the team in 2018, or his wife, Nicole, the Panthers\u2019 chief administrative officer. The Panthers told The Athletic last year that their \u201cdoors are open\u201d to Newton, who has been invited to team-sponsored events previously but has not attended, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.<\/p>\n

However, that will change Saturday, in a big, loud way on an important day for the Panthers, their fans and the city of Charlotte.<\/p>\n