On Thursday night, former President Donald Trump issued pardons for five ex-NFL players. The announcement came from Alice Mary Johnson, the White House Pardon Czar, via social media. The players granted pardons include Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon.
Johnson shared a post on X stating, “As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our country.”
Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, personally informed Newton about his pardon. Newton, known for winning three Super Bowls with the Cowboys, was convicted on federal drug trafficking charges after law enforcement discovered a significant amount of marijuana and cash in his vehicles.
Klecko, a former star for the New York Jets and a Pro Football Hall of Famer, had previously pleaded guilty to perjury related to an investigation into insurance fraud.
Lewis is another notable name on the list; he won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens and was a top draft pick in 2000. He had pleaded guilty to a drug-related case involving attempts to arrange sales via cell phone.
Henry, who enjoyed a seven-year career as a Pro Bowl running back, was implicated in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy that spanned between Colorado and Montana.
Finally, Billy Cannon, a standout player revered for winning the Heisman Trophy in 1959 while at LSU, had faced his own set of troubles. He admitted to forgery in the 1980s, and his pardon was granted posthumously after his passing in 2018.
