After suffering the team’s first loss of the season on Sunday, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton told fans that he actually has something to smile about as he welcomed a baby last week.
Nothing will cure the sting of defeat like holding a new born and that’s likely what Newton did after the loss as he announced on Twitter that he and his longtime girlfriend now have a son.
The Charlotte Observer noted that the quarterback’s girl, Kia Proctor, gave birth to the healthy baby boy on Christmas Eve.
"I've been quiet about this because I didn't want to create a distraction for my team and appreciate the privacy in this joyous time,” Newton said about the birth.
During Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, Newton took the ball in the end zone and cradled it like a baby for his touchdown celebration. He was asked about that after the game, but said there was no significance.
The Panthers went 14-0 before getting beat by their division rivals. Next up the team takes on the 6-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to round out the regular season.