President Trump Grants Pardons to Former NFL Athletes
In a move that has sparked curiosity nationwide, President Donald Trump announced pardons for five former NFL players, including a posthumous pardon for one. The announcement, made by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson, came on Thursday and covered crimes from perjury to drug trafficking.
The individuals who received clemency include Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon. “As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation,” Johnson stated on the social media platform X, expressing gratitude to Trump for his “continued commitment to second chances.”
Notably, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones personally informed Newton of the pardon. Newton, a key player in three Super Bowl victories with the Cowboys, had been convicted on a federal drug trafficking charge after authorities found $10,000 in his truck and 175 pounds of marijuana in a nearby vehicle.
Klecko, a former defensive lineman for the New York Jets, was convicted of perjury in connection with a federal grand jury investigation into insurance fraud. His impressive career led to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
Jamal Lewis, formerly with the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, had pleaded guilty in a drug case involving an attempt to arrange a drug deal using a cellphone. Despite his legal troubles, Lewis had an outstanding career, being named the 2003 AP Offensive Player of the Year.
Travis Henry, who played as a running back for the Denver Broncos, was convicted of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, as he financed a drug ring operating between Colorado and Montana.
Billy Cannon, posthumously pardoned, was involved in counterfeiting activities in the mid-1980s due to financial difficulties. Cannon had a storied football career, winning the 1959 Heisman Trophy and creating one of the most famous plays in college football history during his tenure at Louisiana State University.
President Donald Trump speaks during an event with Environmental Protection Agency director Lee Zeldin to announce the EPA will no longer regulate greenhouse gases, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Washington. Evan Vucci/AP
The White House has not provided further comments regarding the specific reasons for these pardons, although President Trump is known for his keen interest in sports. The decision has left many pondering the implications and motivations behind such acts of clemency.
