Stephen A. Smith reacts to Auburn retiring Cam Newton's jersey

On Monday, Auburn announced plans to formally retire Cam Newton‘s No. 2 jersey in a ceremony during the Oct. 11 home game against rival Georgia. It’s a moment 15 years in the making after Newton firmly cemented his place in program lore by leading the Tigers to the 2010 BCS National Championship in arguably one of the single-most dominating individual seasons in NCAA history.

Two days later, ESPN colleague Stephen A. Smith took a moment to congratulate and honor Newton during Wednesday’s episode of First Take on ESPN.

“First of all, I’m incredibly happy for him. As far as I’m concerned, it’s long overdue, it’s well-deserved,” Smith said of Newton on Wednesday morning. “The man won the Heisman. He won a national championship. They went undefeated. He won the Maxwell Award, the Heisman Trophy, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He was absolutely sensational (at Auburn). What he did for the Auburn Tigers you can’t say enough (about it). So he deserves it.”

Newton became a regular contributor on First Take during 2024, often providing powerful and at times controversial takes on the happenings across both college football and the NFL last season. Smith took the opportunity Wednesday to confirm Newton would be returing to the ESPN airwaves with more planned appearances on First Take throughout the upcoming football season.

“I hope he doesn’t mind me saying this, but everybody can look forward to First Take — we’ve had the pleasure of working with him last season — he will be back this season with us as well,” Smith continued about Newton. “So I’m looking forward to (working with) him, just like I look forward to you guys and I wanted to take a moment to thank him for what he’s done for this show. … Cam is one of us now, he’s a contributor this show. … On behalf of the entire show, we want to say congratulations to Cam and his family and congratulations, it’s well deserved, my brother.”

Newton will be the fourth Auburn Football alumnus to have his jersey number retired, joining former receiver Terry Beasley, former running back Bo Jackson, and former quarterback Pat Sullivan. Like Newton, Jackson and Sullivan are among the Tigers’ three Heisman Trophy winners.

“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 told AuburnSports. “Retiring Cam’s jersey number is a fitting way to celebrate his lasting impact on Auburn University and Auburn Athletics for all time.” 

Rhett Lashlee reacts to Auburn retiring Cam Newton’s number

Oct. 11 is going to be a special day on the Plains. Not only will another rivalry matchup against Georgia take place inside Jordan-Hare Stadium but a program legend is set to see his number retired. Nobody else will wear No. 2 as Cam Newton is honored by Auburn.

Reactions have poured in, including from people who were a part of the national championship-winning season. One of them is current SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee, someone who was a graduate assistant at Auburn in 2010.

Lashlee gave his reaction to the announcement of Newton getting his number retired. “Absolutely deserving,” Lashlee said via X. “@CamNewton congrats.”

There have to be some good memories from 15 years ago, though. Lashlee may have only been a graduate assistant but he got a first-hand look at Newton’s brilliance. A total of 4,327 yards and 50 touchdowns when you combine the passing and rushing stats.

Auburn wound up being the best team in college football, winning the BCS national championship over Oregon. An SEC Championship was acquired during the run, destroying South Carolina in Atlanta after an undefeated regular season.

“Cam was awesome,” Lashlee said in 2024 via The Drive With Josh Newman. “Incredible competitor, loved to play… Nobody prepared or worked harder than Cam. Even Friday nights, going to the hotel, he had his laptop on his lap still watching film. And he brought his team along with him. From what everyone saw on the outside, he earned it during the work week.”

— On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.