The Panthers made a significant investment in quarterback Cam Newton when they signed their 2011 first-round draft choice to a five-year contract extension through 2020 on Tuesday. Newton has posted some impressive statistics in his first four seasons with the team.
• First player in NFL history to have 10,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in first four seasons.
• Only player in NFL history to have at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in four consecutive seasons.
• Recorded the third most career touchdowns by a quarterback in first four NFL seasons with 115. Only Hall of Famer Dan Marino (144) and future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (118) had more.
• Ranks second in team history with 1,144 completions, 1,923 pass attempts, 14,426 passing yards and a 59.49 completion percentage and first with a 2.81 interception percentage.
• Tied for second in team history with eight 300-yard passing games and stands third with 82 touchdown passes.
• Ranks first in team history with an average of 5.51 yards per rushing attempt and second with 33 rushing touchdowns (only three running backs have more rushing touchdowns than Newton since he entered the NFL in 2011).
• Has four career games with at least 200 passing yards, multiple touchdown passes, 80 rushing yards and a touchdown run – the most such games in NFL history.
• Has directed eight career game-winning drives (defined as a drive that puts the team ahead for good in the fourth quarter or overtime).
• Has compiled a 14-4 regular season after November since 2011. Only New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has more wins during that period.
• Led the Panthers to consecutive NFC South championships in 2013 and 2014, becoming the first team in NFC South history to win consecutive division championships since realignment in 2002.
• Moved into second place in team history in 2014 for the most starts by a quarterback with 62, behind Jake Delhomme's 90 from 2003-09.
• Produced career highs of 24 touchdowns passes, 88.8 quarterback rating and 61.73 completion percentage in 2013, the second-highest completion percentage in team history behind Steve Beuerlein's record 62.97 in 1998.
• Set a team record for the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception with 176 in 2012.
• Set a team record with a 7.98-yard average passing gain and tied the team record for the lowest interception percentage of 2.47 percent in 2012.
• Earned the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011, when he set a then NFL rookie record for passing yards with 4,051 and an NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 14.
• Selected to the Pro Bowl in 2011 and 2013.
