Trump Pardon for Former NFL Players Draws Attention

President Donald Trump’s recent decision to pardon former NFL players has certainly generated a lot of discussion.

The announcement was conveyed by Alice Marie Johnson, the White House Pardon Czar, who herself was pardoned by Trump in 2020 after spending 22 years in prison.

“Compassion changes lives,” she stated.

“Today, the President pardoned five former NFL players. Football teaches us that excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. Our nation mirrors this sentiment,” Johnson expressed.

The players receiving pardons are Billy Cannon, Travis Henry, Joe Kleko, Jamal Lewis, and Nate Newton. Of this group, Cannon is the only one who has passed away.

Travis Henry: A former running back for the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans who made it to the Pro Bowl in 2002. However, in 2008, Henry, while with the Denver Broncos, was arrested in Montana with six pounds of marijuana and over six pounds of cocaine—he was trafficking cocaine between Colorado and Montana. Although sentenced to three years in federal prison, he was released after serving two years.

Jamal Lewis: The ex-Baltimore Raven won a Super Bowl in 2001 and earned numerous accolades during his career, including holding the record for the second-most rushing yards in a game. In 2004, he struck a plea deal after being charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. He ultimately served four months in prison before continuing his NFL career until 2009.

Joe Kleko: A former defensive tackle for the New York Jets, Kleko was involved in an insurance fraud scheme that led to his indictment in 1992 alongside 66 others. He pleaded guilty to perjury in 1993 and was sentenced to three months in prison.

Nate Newton: This former Dallas Cowboys player, who enjoyed significant success from 1986 to 1998, faced legal troubles when he was found with 175 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle, ultimately receiving a 30-month prison sentence.

Billy Cannon: A Heisman Trophy winner who played for the Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders in the 1960s, Cannon pleaded guilty to counterfeiting banknotes in the 1980s. He spent over two years in prison before passing away in 2018 at the age of 80.

Johnson expressed her gratitude for this development, calling it “a blessed day” and highlighting the President’s commitment to second chances.

Additionally, in November, President Trump had pardoned former MLB player Darryl Strawberry for a 30-year tax evasion charge related to unreported income he earned from baseball cards and autograph signings.