Cam Newton had a lot to get off his chest about Aaron Hernandez once he brought him up. The former MVP has openly defended him in a public appearance and is catching some heat for his words.
Aaron Hernandez had been a sensational tight end for the New England Patriots. The sky seemed to be the limit for him, but it all came crashing down when his dark secrets finally came out. Hernandez was convicted of the first-degree murder of Odin Lloyd and sentenced to life without parole. His name was further connected to the killings of several others as well.
So, you’d think that many who had been in the NFL would distance themselves from the killer. However, Cam Newton stayed true to his feelings and spoke his heart out. His past words about his former teammate have resurfaced, where he describes Hernandez as ‘fun-loving’ and a ‘beautiful soul.’ He also claimed that Hernandez was there for him in his darkest moments.
On my soul, on my firstborn. Only one from UF checked on me, Aaron. Shows our bond. Fun-loving, loved hard, trauma from father’s loss” Newton said back in 2021.
What Happened In The Video
The resurfaced video of Cam Newton shows him struggling to keep his composure. You could see that Newton was struggling to describe his bond, but still chose to air his true feelings to the world. While the world sees Aaron Hernandez as a villain and a killer, the former MVP still looks at him like the ‘fun-loving’ close friend he was.
Newton would go so for to swear on his life and firstborn to defend Hernandez. He claimed that his late friend was the only one who came to check up on him during his 2008 suspension from the NFL. His career had almost ended in a controversial scandal involving a stolen laptop.
The former quarterback was visibly emotional throughout the speech. He would also acknowledge the damage Hernandez left behind, but would still go on to speak for the character of his late teammate as a beautiful soul.’
Why NFL Fans Turned Their Backs On Newton
Cam Newton may have spoken from the heart about his complicated feelings, but the facts are that Aaron Hernandez was a convicted killer. That’s how many of his fans saw it as well, as they shamed him for defending the former New England Patriots player.
Newton is facing quite the backlash from his words back in 2021, and many didn’t appreciate him defending a serial killer while being aware of all of his crimes. After all, many of us aren’t as forgiving of a convicted killer and are going to judge his legacy based on these facts. Hernandez might’ve been a saint to Newton, but he was far from a ‘beautiful soul.’
Published: Oct 16, 2025 04:28 pm