Cam Newton started the fight at 7v7 youth tournament, opposing coaches say

The coaches who were in a fight with Cam Newton at a youth 7v7 football tournament in Atlanta this weekend say the former NFL quarterback started the incident.

The scuffle went viral on social media on Sunday. In videos that showed multiple angles, the former NFL quarterback, wearing one of his signature hats, got into a shoving match with two other people. The fight started under a tent and went into the surrounding grass area against a fence.

A statement from TopShelf Performance shared with USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday said that TJ and Steph Brown, the coaches involved in the fight, previously worked for Newton. They were coaches for the Heisman Trophy winner's C1N organization in what was at first a "mutually beneficial relationship."

A game on Saturday when TopShelf beat C1N in the tournament is when tensions spilled over. The statement said Newton approached TJ in the parking lot on Sunday and boasted about his money. Once everyone got to the field for the next day of competition, Newton continued to taunt TopShelf, saying things like "I know that play," "I taught you everything you know,” “I made y'all” and “I’m your daddy."

The statement said Steph left the field to address the taunting with Newton. The 2011 No.1 overall draft pick reportedly grabbed the coach "by his jacket trying to choke him." TJ punched Newton "and the situation as a whole escalated."

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TopShelf said that the Browns were the only ones involved on their end of the fight and that one of Newton's players fought on his side, punching TJ in the nose. In video of the fight, a youth player wearing a white shirt can be seen jumping in and throwing a punch while the others scuffle against a fence and people wearing "Staff" T-shirts try to break up the fight.

The statement said relationship between Newton and the Browns started to crack in the 2021-2022 season, especially after the team TJ coached beat the one Newton coached.

"The footage that was captured would be deleted and Cam struggled to accept defeat," the statement said.

The Browns left C1N and started their own TopShelf 7v7 team in 2022. TopShelf said their relationship with the former Carolina Panthers star remained cordial, with both sides engaging in friendly taunting and appreciation for each other's talent.

"The entire incident is profoundly disheartening," the statement said of the fight. "We aspire to serve as exemplars both on and off the field, dedicated to cultivating a community that prioritizes the safety of our athletes and their families. Our objective is to nurture individuals of strong moral character. We acknowledge our responsibility for the consequences of our actions and for allowing the provocation to lead us to behave in a manner inconsistent with our usual character."

TopShelf Performance released another statement on Instagram Monday night, apologizing for "getting beyond our Character."

"We are deeply concerned about the recent incident involving Cam Newton, and our thoughts are with all parties affected. Violence has no place in our community, and we strongly condemn any form of aggression. ... Our values are centered around respect and collaboration, and making sure every kid & player thrives to be better that's around us. We take any deviation from these principles seriously.

"We are actively addressing this matter internally and working towards a resolution that aligns with our commitment to creating a positive space for our team and clients. We appreciate your understanding and want to reassure our community that something like this will NEVER happen again. We remain dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity and will continue to help and grow with the players in the community."

7v7 tournament organizers release statement on Cam Newton fight

The companies that hosted the 7v7 competition, DynastyU and We Ball Sports, released a statement on Monday to explain what happened when Newton and the TopShelf coaches fought.

"During the playoff games on Sunday, a scuffle occurred between the coaches on C1N and (TopShelf) Performance with tensions stemming from previous interactions," the statement said. Newton is the founder and a coach of C1N, which gets its name from his initials and his No. 1 jersey number.

"The isolated event was quickly and safely deescalated by Atlanta Police Department, who patrolled the event both days, as well as bystanders," the statement continued. "Both coaches were removed from the premises, and the championship games continued. Violence has not and will not be condoned in the environments where competition and hard work are fostered."

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The sponsors said the inaugural event "had an incredible turnout" and "do not wish for the isolated event to overshadow both championship teams on their winnings."

Newton's C1N team won the 15U tournament while Hustle, Inc. won the 18U competition.

"1ØVĖ," Newton said in a comment, meaning "love," on C1N's Instagram video celebrating their 18U victory.

Neither he nor C1N have publicly addressed the fight. USA TODAY Sports has reached out to Newton's representatives and had not heard back at time of publication.

— Contributing: USA TODAY Sports reporter Josh Peter