Longtime HOF selector talks about Cam Newton's chances at football immortality

On August 8th, former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and five-time first-team All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He joined illustrious company alongside Julius Peppers, Sam Mills, Kevin Greene, Reggie White and Jared Allen, all of whom made the journey from Charlotte to Canton. Now, the question on everyone's mind is who will be the next franchise legend to join their ranks?

Paul Domowitch, a longtime NFL and USFL columnist and Pro Football Hall of Fame Selector since 2002, offered his thoughts on the chances for other Panthers greats.

Domowitch's comments suggest that Steve Smith Sr.'s case for the Hall of Fame seems to be a matter of when, rather than if. Smith, a two-time first-team All-Pro, two-time second-team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, spent 13 of his 16 seasons with the Panthers. He ranks eighth all-time in receiving yards (14,731), just behind Tim Brown and Marvin Harrison. Smith's name appeared as a semifinalist for the upcoming selection cycle, now in its sixth year.

However, the upcoming class of 2026 will see the induction of Cam Newton, who is entering his first year of eligibility. Newton's case is not as clear-cut as Smith's. While he did pick up some notable hardware during his 11-year career—most notably being named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011, Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year in 2015, and first-team All-Pro three times—he also ranks 49th and 61st all-time in passing yards and touchdowns, respectively.

If Newton is inducted into the Hall of Fame, it will likely be more due to the impact he left behind on the game, rather than his individual statistics. For now, his chances do not appear to be in his favor. However, as time progresses, both his mark on the game and his candidacy could grow.