Former Patriots quarterback Cam Newton has come to the defense of Arch Manning’s decision to remain at Texas as a backup quarterback, drawing parallels to his own early college career.
Speaking on his 4th & 1 podcast, Newton reflected on his time backing up Tim Tebow at Florida, using it as a lens to analyze Manning’s path.
Manning has faced criticism for spending two seasons behind Quinn Ewers, who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. But Newton argues the Longhorns’ young quarterback is focusing on the bigger picture.
Newton explained that the Manning family deliberately brought Arch to Texas, aiming to place him in an environment where he could steadily develop into elite talent, rather than seeking instant starting opportunities.
“A lot of these parents and a lot of these players get so jaded off of the fact that, ‘hey, I’m trying to play early,’” Newton said. “Scratch that. Go somewhere that after three years, you can put yourself in the position to go to the league.”
He stressed that starting games doesn’t automatically translate to true growth for a player, recounting how, even though he always felt more talented than Tebow, his former teammate taught him valuable lessons about leadership and preparation.
“Arch would be a fool if he has not learned anything from Quinn Ewers,” Newton said. “How he prepared, how he lead his team, and just how he handled and managed the expectations for being a quarterback at a university like Texas.”
With Ewers now gone, Manning is stepping into his first season as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback and has already emerged as an early favorite in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
Newton added his own perspective on the award, noting that the synonym for “Heisman” is “hype,” suggesting that the player who generates the most buzz often takes home college football’s top honor.
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