Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton admits it ‘hurts’ that he can no longer be ‘superman’ to his eight kids while earning less money in his post-football career.

Newton, who bowed out from the sport in 2021, shares four children with ex-girlfriend Kia Proctor; sons Chosen Sebastian, Camidas Swain and Cashmere Swaint and daughter Sovereign-Dior Cambella.

The ex-MVP quarterback also helps raise Proctor’s older daughter, Shakira, and shares two kids with pH๏τographer LaReina Shaw – son Caesar and Shaw’s older son from another relationship, Jaden.

He then welcomed his first child with current girlfriend Jasmin Brown in March 2024, though the couple are yet to reveal the name of their baby girl.

Newton spent 11 years in the NFL after being selected with the first overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Carolina Panthers, where he stayed for almost the entirety of his career bar a brief stint with the New England Patriots.

Yet despite reportedly earning close to $135million in that time, the 35-year-old has opened up on his struggles as a father without the luxury of an NFL salary.

Ex-NFL star Cam Newton admits it ‘hurts’ that he can no longer be ‘superman’ to his eight kids

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‘I’m going into a different phase of my life that’s going to require a different form of myself,’ Newton said while featuring on the Fox hit reality television show ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’.

‘Being in the NFL, everyone knows there’s a large sum of money that comes to you in a short span of time and being away from the game for three years, those checks don’t came in the same. Like I got eight kids.’

‘It hurts me knowing that I can’t provide like I once did. It hurts thinking that I’m Superman, but in reality, I’m just a man,’ he added.

‘There’s a famous quote that says in order to get something that you’ve never had, you go to do something that you’ve never done. At 35, I can literally say, “Okay now I’m getting prepared for this next chapter of my life.”‘

Newton is one of 16 contestants on Fox’s military-training-based compeтιтion show, with several other famous faces taking part coming from sports backgrounds.

On last week’s episode he wowed his castmates and stunned his fans by jumping onto a moving helicopter from a boat with ease as part of a military-style challenge.

The show will air for a total of five weeks leading up to the Super Bowl alongside fellow former NFL wide receiver Golden Tate. 

The 35-year-old shares four of his eight children with ex-girlfriend Kia Proctor (right)

Newton and current girlfriend Jasmin Brown welcomed their first child together in March 2024

As well as starring on Special Forces, Newton works as an analyst for ESPN’s First Take after joining the popular sports debate show back in October.

During his playing days, he was named NFL MVP in 2015 – the same season he helped Carolina reach its second Super Bowl, which ended in defeat against the Denver Broncos. 

After nine years in Carolina, Newton went on to spend brief time with the Patriots and another final season with the Panthers, but has not played since failing to be re-signed by the team in 2021.

Almost four years since leaving the team he still holds franchise records for pᴀssing yards (29,725), pᴀssing touchdowns (186) and rushing touchdowns (63).