This past weekend marked a significant milestone for Cam Newton as he returned to Auburn University for a long-awaited event.

The former NFL and college football icon was celebrated on Saturday when Auburn officially retired his No. 2 jersey during a special halftime ceremony at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“Thank you to Auburn. This is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.”@CameronNewton on Auburn retiring his jersey number on Saturday 🤩 pic.twitter.com/rBtrmwQMfP

— First Take (@FirstTake) October 10, 2025

Prior to the ceremony, Newton shared his thoughts on the momentous occasion with “First Take,” describing the experience as “surreal” and emphasizing that “hard work still pays off.”

“What an incredible time to be alive,” Newton expressed. “I am truly grateful. This is a surreal experience for me. I hope it serves as a testament to athletes everywhere that dedication and perseverance pay off. Throughout my football career, I always gave my best and followed the advice of those I respected. I aimed to execute everything to the best of my ability.”

Newton added, “I extend my gratitude to Auburn. This is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. I’m thrilled that my children could witness this moment and see for themselves that their dad is pretty cool too.”

Leading up to the ceremony, Newton reiterated how meaningful it was to have his children by his side.

“But to have my children here for them to kind of see like, oh, that’s daddy. I’ve said no to a lot of opportunities because I wasn’t able to bring them. Every man, every parent does what they do to be able to allow their children to see them of what they’ve accomplished.

Cam Newton is a father of nine kids. He recently revealed that he and girlfriend Jasmin Brown have quietly welcomed their second child together — a baby boy.

Newton also shares four children — Chosen, Camidas, Cashmere, and Sovereign-Dior — with ex Kia Proctor, and helps care for her older daughter, Shakira. He also has a son, Caesar, with photographer LaReina Shaw, and is a father figure to her older son, Jaden.