Cam Newton is reported to be leaving as part of a wider round of talent layoffs, a move that would remove one of the more recognisable recent voices on First Take. The development matters because Newton had become a regular presence on the show and had been elevated into a more prominent Monday role during football season.
According to reports, is set to make changes to its on-air NFL lineup, with Newton among the employees affected. The network has not yet formally announced the full round of layoffs, but Tuesday is being pointed to as the day when it could do so.
Newton's rise on First Take
Over the past two seasons, featured Newton as a debate partner for Stephen A. Smith on First Take, where his presence gave the show another high-profile football voice. Last season, he was elevated to replace Shannon Sharpe as Smith's primary Monday co-host during football season.
That made Newton a more central part of 's studio coverage, especially at a time when the network has leaned heavily on strong opinions and lively exchanges to drive its NFL discussion.
Who else is affected?
Newton is not the only name in the frame. On Monday, OutKick reported that Ryan Clark would also be among the on-air employees let go, and the report said Smith will lose both Newton and Clark during the football season.
That creates a notable shift for First Take, where Newton had become a regular presence and part of the show’s weekly rhythm. It also leaves facing the task of reshaping a debate-driven NFL lineup that had recently relied on Newton’s role.
A quick turn after a public rift
The backdrop is complicated as well. Last spring, Newton invited Jason Whitlock onto his podcast, prompting Stephen A. Smith to criticize him for not defending him when Whitlock cited what he described as fabrications in Smith's 2023 memoir. Smith later said he “hates with a passion” being put in that position, while Newton said there was “nothing to correct.”
Now, though, the immediate story is professional rather than personal: appears ready to move on from Newton in a round of layoffs, and the fallout will be felt most clearly in the football-season version of First Take.
