Trump Grants Pardons to Former NFL Players
On Thursday, President Donald Trump issued pardons to five former professional football players, including one posthumously, for various offenses such as perjury and drug trafficking.
The announcement came from Alice Marie Johnson, known as the White House Pardon Czar. The players pardoned include Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon.
In a social media post on site X, Johnson expressed gratitude to Trump for his “continued commitment to second chances,” emphasizing that both football and America thrive on resilience, character, and the ability to bounce back.
According to Johnson, Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, personally informed Newton of his pardon, noting Newton’s impressive three Super Bowl victories with the team.
The White House did not provide comments regarding the rationale behind Trump’s decision, although he is known to be a big sports enthusiast.
Klecko, a former standout for the New York Jets, pleaded guilty to perjury for lying to a federal grand jury during an insurance fraud investigation. He is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, having been named an Associated Press All-Pro twice and earning four Pro Bowl selections.
Newton, who played as an offensive lineman, faced federal drug trafficking charges after $10,000 was discovered in his pickup truck along with 175 pounds of marijuana found in a vehicle driven by another individual. He was a two-time All-Pro and made six Pro Bowls during his career.
Lewis, a former player for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, was involved in a drug case where he tried to use a cell phone to arrange a drug deal shortly after being selected as the first overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. He was honored as an All-Pro once and also made one Pro Bowl, notably receiving the 2003 AP Offensive Player of the Year title.
Henry, who had stints with the Denver Broncos, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine while financing a drug organization that operated between Colorado and Montana. He was a one-time Pro Bowler and played running back for three different teams.
Cannon, who played for the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs, admitted to forgery in the mid-1980s after being overwhelmed by poor investments and debt. A two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, Cannon won the Heisman Trophy in 1959 at Louisiana State University and is famous for a remarkable 89-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ole Miss, before he passed away in 2018.
