The Panthers closed a chapter of the franchise’s history on Tuesday as the NFL franchise officially released Cam Newton.

“Cam has meant a lot to this organization and the Carolinas,” general manager Marty Hurney said in a released statement from the team. “Everyone saw his performances on the field. I had the privilege of seeing how hard he worked off the field, and his commitment to this team when no one was watching. He’s the ultimate competitor and it physically hurts him to lose.

“He willed this team to victory on many occasions and will always be considered one of the greatest players in the history of this franchise. His contributions to this team, this community and the game of football will leave a lasting impact on our organization.”

The former No. 1 overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft has been replaced by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who was signed by the Panthers this offseason for around $40 million. The decision to sign Bridgewater comes after the Panthers hired a new coach and offensive coordinator to reshape the offense in Carolina.

Once news of Bridgewater’s signing was official, the writing was on the wall for Newton as the veteran appeared in only two games for the Panthers last season before being placed on injured reserve by the club.

Now that he’s technically a free agent and free to sign with any NFL team, Newton has a message for the rest of the league, “I’m free and hungry!” he posted on Instagram with the following videos: