Cam Newton jumps from speedboat to helicopter: ‘Special Forces’

Cam Newton may have been a star on the football field, but the former NFL player is proving his mettle and fitness in other arenas in Season 3 of Special Forces: The world’s toughest test.

In a clip from the latest episode shared by Panthers fan Michael Bell on X, Newton, 35 – known as “Super Cam” during his professional career – can be seen traveling on a speedboat while a helicopter hovers overhead. The former footballer – who has never officially retired – is encouraged to “go, go, go, jump, let’s go” and throw himself from the moving craft to engage the helicopter’s landing gear.

Despite the dangers of the task, father-of-eight Newton leaps as the other assembled contestants look on, amazed. When he manages to pull himself up from the landing gear into the helicopter itself, a clearly impressed Stephen Baldwin asks the others: “Did you see that? He pushed himself onto a helicopter!”

As Newton gasps with joy at his performance, the commander in the helicopter next to him tells him to be quiet. “No screaming, no screaming,” he says.

The former NFL star is encouraged to take the plunge.

FOX


After being drafted at the top of the 2011 draft, Newton led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50, won the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player and was a three-time Pro Bowler throughout his 11-year NFL career, per Sports Illustrated.

In the latest Special forces series, recruits have trained in Wales, home of British Special Forces Selection, and have “endure(d) the harsh reality of maritime warfare,” according to a Fox press release.

Never miss a story – sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

As well as Newton, the recruits include incoming BachelorTrista Sutter, 52, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, Denise Richards, 53, and actor Baldwin, 58.

They are joined by Olympic swimming gold medalist Nathan Adrian, pro surfer Alana Blanchard, professional football player Landon Donovan, motocross champion and husband of Pink, Carey Hart, TV personality and DJ Brody Jenner and Olympic athlete Marion Jones.

Newton along with the other recruits.

Pete Dadds/FOX


Previous Bachelor Ali Manno (Fedotowsky), athlete Newton, influencer and ex-girlfriend of Travis Kelce, Kayla Nicole, The proud family alum Kyla Pratt, Even Stevens star and actress Christy Carlson Romano, Super Bowl champion Golden Tate and Olympic gold medalist gymnast Jordyn Wieber round out the Season 3 cast.

The network promises “there are no votes and no eliminations — just survival” this season, and that the celebrity recruits “so used to being in the spotlight will quickly learn the meaning of ‘no guts, no glory’ — and no glam.”