Former NFL MVP Cam Newton got into a heated exchange with the mascot of Alabama A&M during a live segment of ESPN’s First Take on Friday.
The segment, meant to highlight the culture of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), featured a lighthearted 40-yard dash between mascots. After the race, the Alabama A&M “Bulldog” mascot appeared to try to knock Newton’s hat off as Newton walked across the field, according to televised footage and social-media posts.
Newton retaliated by raising his hand and slapping the mascot, who then rushed toward Newton. Newton pushed back and repeatedly told the mascot: “Stop playing with me!” The incident brought the tone of the segment from playful to confrontational.
Anyone watching Cam Newton get into it with the Alabama A&M Mascot? pic.twitter.com/0fA6l2FFJO
— Legend 🦁 (@Legendkilla691) October 24, 2025
Newton, who now works as a commentator and analyst, has a powerful presence both on and off the field. His involvement in a physical altercation—even one involving a mascot—raises questions about decorum and media personas.
The live-televised moment has already begun circulating online, adding a viral element to the storyline. The mascot’s role traditionally involves entertaining and energizing fans; this altercation casts the role—and the optics of such segments—into a different light.
For Newton’s media career, the incident underscores the balance between personality and professionalism. For the HBCU program and its mascot, it suggests the need to maintain clear boundaries during televised promotional events. And for the broader sports-culture conversation, it’s a reminder that spur-of-the-moment antics can escalate quickly—and become part of a star’s public narrative.
