AUBURN, Ala.—Auburn Athletics will retire 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton’s No. 2 jersey, making him the fourth player in program history to have his number retired. The retirement ceremony will take place at the Georgia game on Oct. 11 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Newton’s No. 2 jersey will join Pat Sullivan (No. 7), Bo Jackon (No. 34) and Terry Beasley (No. 88) as former Tiger football players to have their jersey number retired. Sullivan and Beasley’s jerseys were retired following Sullivan’s 1971 Heisman Trophy season and Jackson’s jersey was retired as part of Auburn’s football centennial celebration in 1992.
“Auburn will always be home to me,” Newton said. “The national championship we won in 2010 was a special moment, and to have my jersey retired alongside legends like Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson, and Terry Beasley is an incredible honor that I'll cherish forever. War Eagle!”
One of the most decorated players in Auburn and Southeastern Conference history, Newton led Auburn to the 2010 BCS National Championship and SEC Championship with a perfect 14-0 record.
“Cam Newton not only led Auburn to a national championship in 2010, but he produced one of the most prolific seasons ever by a college football player,” Auburn athletics director John Cohen said. “Retiring Cam’s jersey number is a fitting way to celebrate his lasting impact on Auburn University and Auburn Athletics for all time.”
A native of College Park, Georgia, Newton was a consensus All-American in his lone season at Auburn and won the Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, Manning Award, Davey O’Brien Award and was Associated Press National Player of the Year.
During Newton’s historic 2010 season, he threw for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns while rushing for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns, also scoring a receiving touchdown. He became the first player in SEC history to pass for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season.
“Cam is one of the greatest players to wear an Auburn uniform and it is only fitting that he has his No. 2 jersey retired,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said. “We look forward to honoring and celebrating Cam this season with this much-deserved recognition.”
Newton went on to have an 11-year career in the National Football League and was NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011 and NFL Most Valuable player in 2015 while leading the Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl 50. Newton holds the Carolina franchise record for passing yards, passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns while leading the organization to four playoff appearances and three division titles. His 75 rushing touchdowns are the most by a quarterback in NFL history.