NFL fans sense Cam Newton will retire after disappointing 2021 NFL season

Cam Newton was in the Super Bowl five years ago, but it has been a tough career since. Repeated down seasons, bouncing to the Patriots, getting cut, and landing with the Panthers has been Newton's life over the last few years. At a certain point, the struggles cannot be overcome. Based on how 2021 has gone, fans are sensing the end is near.NFL fans call for Cam Newton to retireCarolina Panthers QB Cam NewtonEmmanuel Acho@EmmanuelAchoEither Cam Newton has to retire or I have to retire because I refuse to keep doing this, I can’t take it. 😔1:55 AM · Dec 21, 20212360240Either Cam Newton has to retire or I have to retire because I refuse to keep doing this, I can’t take it. 😔 https://t.co/MMnnUIUZd2Emmanuel Acho@EmmanuelAchoCam Newton was my favorite player during my 4 year NFL stint. He is one of the greatest football players, at every level, the game has ever seen. But if you don’t think he should retire, you are his enemy. He’s tarnishing his legacy. 11:31 AM · Dec 26, 202132424Cam Newton was my favorite player during my 4 year NFL stint. He is one of the greatest football players, at every level, the game has ever seen. But if you don’t think he should retire, you are his enemy. He’s tarnishing his legacy. https://t.co/OcXOgMAfK1Jake DeLorme@jdelorme18The last few years with Cam Newton have been tough, but his words with the media after the game today reminds me of why I loved the guy. What he meant to the game of football, pioneering the way for black quarterbacks and power running quarterback has to be respected. Retire. twitter.com/panthers/statu…Carolina Panthers@PanthersCam Newton speaks to the media after the game twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…7:07 AM · Dec 26, 202132Cam Newton speaks to the media after the game twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…The last few years with Cam Newton have been tough, but his words with the media after the game today reminds me of why I loved the guy. What he meant to the game of football, pioneering the way for black quarterbacks and power running quarterback has to be respected. Retire. twitter.com/panthers/statu…⚡️T-Time ⚡️@Ayo_TTime9Damn man this Cam Newton press conference definitely giving “ I’m finna retire” vibes2:08 AM · Dec 26, 2021629Damn man this Cam Newton press conference definitely giving “ I’m finna retire” vibesNick Adams@NickAdamsinUSACam Newton needed to retire yesterday.9:53 AM · Dec 26, 202112711Cam Newton needed to retire yesterday.Pfizio Foreign 🥷🏾@RishiRajah@EmmanuelAcho So if Cam Newton plays football next year you’ll retire? Thats what youre saying?9:09 AM · Dec 22, 20213576@EmmanuelAcho So if Cam Newton plays football next year you’ll retire? Thats what youre saying? https://t.co/yESejtiE3ARyan@JetBlkM3Enough of the excuses #camnewton HAS to retire! He has been HORRIBLE for YEARS! #PANTHERS #embarrassing1:05 AM · Dec 26, 20214Enough of the excuses #camnewton HAS to retire! He has been HORRIBLE for YEARS! #PANTHERS #embarrassingDesmond@sportskid6172 players that need to retire ASAP: Big Ben Cam Newton2:03 AM · Dec 26, 202112 players that need to retire ASAP: Big Ben Cam NewtonPlug Flutie@plugflutieCam Newton committed to UF, won a natty at Auburn, and then had an amazing career at Carolina.Basically, he’s the bane of my (sports) existence and I can still confidently say I’d rather him stick around if it meant you had to retire. twitter.com/EmmanuelAcho/s…Emmanuel Acho@EmmanuelAchoEither Cam Newton has to retire or I have to retire because I refuse to keep doing this, I can’t take it. 😔2:35 AM · Dec 22, 202151Either Cam Newton has to retire or I have to retire because I refuse to keep doing this, I can’t take it. 😔 https://t.co/MMnnUIUZd2Cam Newton committed to UF, won a natty at Auburn, and then had an amazing career at Carolina.Basically, he’s the bane of my (sports) existence and I can still confidently say I’d rather him stick around if it meant you had to retire. twitter.com/EmmanuelAcho/s…Liam O' Neill@LiamONeill_KeirMatt Ryan, Cam Newton and Ben Rothilsberger need to retire. #RedZone1:50 AM · Dec 19, 202111Matt Ryan, Cam Newton and Ben Rothilsberger need to retire. #RedZoneRafaél De La Crypto@alito10xCelebrate one more first down and retire bro @CameronNewton1:19 AM · Dec 26, 20211Celebrate one more first down and retire bro @CameronNewtonCam Newton started 2021 with the New England Patriots (currently 9-6, 2nd in the AFC East). He was cut at the last moment for Mac Jones and spent most of the year on the couch. It took until November for a team to dial his phone number. In an odd twist of fate, it was his old team, the Carolina Panthers (currently 5-10, 4th in the NFC South).It must have felt like the twilight zone, as much of the coaching staff was entirely new. The roster was much different this time around. That said, there was hope that he could give the Panthers a jolt back to life. Instead, the Panthers are on roughly the same trajectory as they were before Newton arrived.This season, he has put together roughly the same performance in Carolina that he put together in New England. With the Patriots, he threw eight touchdowns and ten interceptions. With the Panthers in 2021, he's thrown for four touchdowns and five interceptions. In other words, he has turned the ball over just a bit more often than the number of touchdowns he's thrown.Will he retire at the end of 2021? The extra time on the couch has given the quarterback time to develop some other interests and feel out what life would be like without playing on Sundays. In 2021, he got a side-by-side comparison of what life would be like on the couch and on the field.Considering how long it took for him to get a call, he may not have a choice. If the Panthers decide to go in a new direction next season, he could be stuck at home. This could have been his last chance. That said, he does have an opportunity to serve as a &quot;Taysom Hill&quot; gadget quarterback, if a team wants him for that purpose.However, there are only a handful of destinations that would be interested in something like that. Of those choices, most would likely be more willing to get a younger player who isn't as injury-prone as Newton has been in the past. Either way, for Newton, it seems his days in the NFL are numbered.