Cam Newton

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton answers questions during a press conference after an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers in Charlotte, N.C., on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016.

(AP Photo)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton's 2016 hasn't been as successful on the field as his 2015, when he was the NFL's Most Valuable Player. But he's still No. 1 on at least one list.

In Google's "Year In Search" for 2016, Newton ranked as the most-searched NFL player.

The searches for the former Auburn star were at their highest in the week after the Panthers lost 24-10 to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7. Newton walked away from his postgame press conference shortly after it started after saying little to the gathered reporters.

Alabama was No. 3 in Goggling for Newton, behind North Carolina and South Carolina. The Dothan Metro Area was the state's hot spot for Newton searches.

The rest of the top-10 most-searched football players after Newton were San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, Miami Dolphins guard Laremy Tunsil, San Diego Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler and Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry.

However, Henry hit his peak of search popularity before he joined the NFL. It came the week of Jan. 10-16, when the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner led Alabama to a victory in the CFP championship game against Clemson. Henry had another surge the week of April 24-30 for the NFL Draft.

Newton finished fourth among the most-searched athletes, behind U.S. Olympians Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Simone Biles.

Newton ranked eighth on the most-searched people list, behind Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Phelps, Bernie Sanders, Steven Avery, Lochte and Biles.

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Another former Auburn athlete landed on the most-searched lists, too. David Ross was the No. 3 baseball player behind Chicago Cubs teammates Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Playing in his final MLB season, the catcher helped the Cubs win the World Series this year for the first time since 1908.

Newton helped make the Panthers the most-searched NFL team, and, on another year-end list, boosted Carolina's motto "Keep pounding" to No.1 among Twitter's sports hashtags of 2016.

The Alabama hashtag #RollTide came in at No. 7.