President Trump Pardons Five Former NFL Players

Clemency granted to players with convictions ranging from drug trafficking to perjury

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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U.S. President Donald Trump has formally pardoned five former NFL players, including one posthumously, for convictions involving crimes such as drug trafficking, perjury, and counterfeiting. The players pardoned are Travis Henry, Jamal Lewis, Billy Cannon, Nate Newton, and Joe Klecko.

Why it matters

The pardons highlight the president's willingness to grant clemency to high-profile individuals with criminal records, even for serious offenses like drug trafficking and counterfeiting. It also raises questions about the criminal justice system's treatment of professional athletes and whether they receive preferential treatment or harsher punishments.

The details

The players pardoned include former running backs Travis Henry and Jamal Lewis, who both served prison time for drug-related offenses. Henry pled guilty in 2009 to conspiracy to traffic cocaine, while Lewis was sentenced in 2005 for using a cell phone to set up a drug deal. Posthumous clemency was granted to Billy Cannon, a Heisman Trophy winner who served 2.5 years in prison in the 1980s for participating in a counterfeiting ring. Offensive lineman Nate Newton and defensive tackle Joe Klecko also received pardons, with Newton serving 30 months for drug trafficking and Klecko receiving 3 months for perjury.

  • On February 13, 2026, President Trump formally granted the pardons.
  • Henry and Lewis were convicted and served their sentences in the 2000s.
  • Cannon was convicted and served his sentence in the mid-1980s.
  • Newton was convicted and served his sentence in the early 2000s.
  • Klecko was convicted and served his sentence in 1993.

The players

Travis Henry

A former running back who played for the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans, Henry pled guilty in 2009 to conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

Jamal Lewis

A former running back who played for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, Lewis was sentenced in 2005 to four months in federal prison for using a cell phone to set up a drug deal.

Billy Cannon

A Heisman Trophy winner who played for the Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders, Cannon served 2.5 years of a 5-year sentence in the mid-1980s for participating in a counterfeiting ring.

Nate Newton

A former offensive lineman who played for the Dallas Cowboys, Newton pled guilty in 2002 to a drug trafficking charge and served 30 months in prison.

Joe Klecko

A former star defensive tackle who played for the New York Jets, Klecko was sentenced to 3 months in prison in 1993 after pleading guilty to perjury for lying to a federal grand jury investigating insurance fraud.

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What they’re saying

“Today, the President granted pardons to five former NFL players — Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late great Dr. Billy Cannon. As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation.”

— Alice Marie Johnson, White House Pardon Czar (X/Twitter)

“Special thanks to Jerry Jones for personally sharing the news with Nate Newton. I'm holding Nate's pardon in my hands today — what a blessed day.”

— Alice Marie Johnson, White House Pardon Czar (X/Twitter)

The takeaway

These pardons highlight the complex relationship between sports, criminal justice, and the political system. While the players have faced serious charges, the president's decision to grant clemency raises questions about whether high-profile individuals receive preferential treatment or if this reflects a broader shift in the administration's approach to criminal justice reform.