Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton recently opened up about his past relationship with Aaron Hernandez, sharing a deeply personal perspective on their time together at the University of Florida.
Speaking on The Coach JB Show, Newton reflected on the late tight end’s troubled life, acknowledging the stark contrast between the charismatic teammate he knew and the man who later became infamous for his off-field actions.
Newton, who went on to win a Heisman Trophy at Auburn and become the face of the Carolina Panthers, admitted he was stunned by Hernandez’s tragic downfall.
“I knew the 16, 17, 18, and 19-year-old Aaron Hernandez,” Newton said. “On my soul, on my firstborn, there was only one person from my University of Florida roster that ever checked up and checked in on me, it was him.“
He recalled Hernandez as a lighthearted, fun-loving personality in the locker room.
“He was the biggest jokester, one of the most fun-loving people I’ve ever been around,” Newton added. “That tells you a lot about the kind of relationship we had and how much we cared for each other.”
For Newton, the public perception of Hernandez is drastically different from the person he remembers.
“Hernandez showed me something very different,” he said. “He loved hard. He was a guy who kept to himself. He went through things we now recognize as trauma, like losing his father.
“He was extremely close to his brother, his aunt, and the entire 2007 recruiting class. We were all together, alongside the Pouncey twins and Joe Haden.”
Beyond Hernandez’s skills on the field, Newton believes his greatest impact was how he made others feel.
“People don’t remember what you did for them as much as they remember how you made them feel. I know how Aaron Hernandez made me feel, as a friend, a teammate, and a person,” Newton said.
Hernandez’s football career was brief but highly productive, as he emerged as a dangerous weapon for the New England Patriots before his legal troubles ended his time in the NFL.
While Newton is free to have his opinion and there’s no reason to doubt his kind words for Hernandez, there is of course another side to the story.
Needless to say, fans were quick to point out all of the terrible things that Hernandez was accused of doing…
“A lot of gangbangers and serial killers have a good heart. You just need to get to know them and understand them….”
“Cam is clearly not a good judge of character.”
“Cam , a genuine heart … the man was a serial killer.. WTF.”
“Was Hernandez helping him steal computers with that genuine heart at UF?”
“Cam Newton will do anything for attention.”
“Cam Newton may want to consider taking a break from speaking publicly.”
What are your thoughts on Newton’s comments???
