Overview
- The Panthers announced Wednesday that Newton will strike the ceremonial drum before Saturday's home playoff game against the Rams at Bank of America Stadium.
- Team social media promoted the moment with a hype video using Newton's voice and the message "we back."
- Newton last appeared with Carolina in 2021 and has not attended a Panthers game since retiring after that season.
- His return follows a period of strain after he said in 2024 he was hurt by being left out of a team legends event in Munich.
- Carolina enters the Wild Card at 8-9 with its first home playoff game in a decade and is listed as a 10.5-point underdog, which CBS Sports notes would be the largest home underdog of the Super Bowl era.