President Donald Trump has officially granted clemency to five former National Football League players, including one posthumously, for a range of federal criminal convictions. The pardons, announced on Thursday by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson, cover offences from perjury and counterfeiting to serious drug trafficking charges.
White House Announces Clemency Decisions
The clemency actions were publicly disclosed via a statement on the social media platform X by Alice Marie Johnson. In her post, Johnson expressed gratitude to President Trump for his "continued commitment to second chances," drawing a parallel between the resilience required in football and the national spirit. "As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation," she wrote.
Details of the Pardoned Individuals
The former NFL players receiving pardons are Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon. Johnson noted that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones personally informed Nate Newton of the pardon news. Newton, an offensive lineman, won three Super Bowl championships with the Cowboys during his career.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday evening regarding the specific rationale behind President Trump's decision to pardon these athletes. Trump, known as an avid sports enthusiast, has previously issued pardons to high-profile individuals, but this batch focuses exclusively on former professional football stars.
Crimes and Backgrounds of the Pardoned Players
Joe Klecko, a former defensive lineman for the New York Jets, pleaded guilty to perjury after providing false testimony to a federal grand jury investigating insurance fraud. Klecko, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, was a two-time Associated Press All-Pro selection and made four Pro Bowl appearances.
Nate Newton pleaded guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge after authorities discovered $10,000 in his pickup truck and 175 pounds of marijuana in a companion vehicle driven by another individual. Newton was a two-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler during his tenure in the NFL.
Jamal Lewis, a running back who played for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, pleaded guilty in a drug case where he used a cellphone to attempt arranging a drug deal shortly after being a top pick in the 2000 NFL draft. Lewis was named an All-Pro once, a one-time Pro Bowler, and received the 2003 AP Offensive Player of the Year award.
Travis Henry, a running back for three teams including the Denver Broncos, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine for financing a drug ring that transported the substance between Colorado and Montana. Henry was a one-time Pro Bowl participant.
Billy Cannon, who passed away in 2018, admitted to counterfeiting in the mid-1980s following a series of poor investments and debts that left him financially ruined. Cannon played for the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs, earning two All-Pro selections and two Pro Bowl nods. He also won the 1959 Heisman Trophy while at Louisiana State University, where he executed one of college football's most memorable plays: an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ole Miss.
The pardons underscore the ongoing debate around criminal justice reform and executive clemency powers, particularly in cases involving high-profile individuals from the sports world.
