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Florida mom had no idea she played pickleball with Panthers legend Cam Newton

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is pretty recognizable, but not to everybody.
Tim Weaver|
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: (L-R) Clarence Maclin, Michael Buffer, Cam Newton and Colman Domingo attend the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: (L-R) Clarence Maclin, Michael Buffer, Cam Newton and Colman Domingo attend the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, California. | (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P)

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Carolina Panthers

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is one of the most recognizable people in the country. A former Heisman winner, national champion and NFL MVP who once played in the Super Bowl, you'd think by now most people would know him on sight - but that doesn't include everybody.

One woman from Florida apparently played an entire game of pickleball with Newton without having any idea who he was. She sent a photo of herself with Newton and her other pickleball partners to her son, asking if he had ever heard of him. He shared the post on Instagram earlier this week. Apparently Newton played like a pro.

Cam Newton surprises pickleball players

Funny.

Newton was also spotted on a flight to New York last week for the Heisman ceremony, the first time he's attended the ceremony since he won the award back in 2010. On first look it seems Newton is crammed into a coach seat, but then you realize the 6-foot-5, 240 pound QB was just making a first-class seat look small.

One place you won't find Newton is anywhere near a Panthers game or official event. When the team invited several team legends to attend their big game against the Kansas City Chiefs a few weeks ago, Newton was nowhere to be found.

Hopefully one day the rift between Newton and the organization will be healed and he'll be welcomed back into the fold.

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Tim Weaver
TIM WEAVER

Tim Weaver has been writing about the NFL since the 2013 season for multiple teams and outlets, including USA Today and The Sporting News. He currently covers the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers for On SI.