Trump Pardons 5 Former NFL Players for Crimes

Pardons granted for offenses ranging from perjury to drug trafficking

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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President Donald Trump has pardoned five former professional football players - one posthumously - for various crimes including perjury, drug trafficking, and counterfeiting. The players pardoned are Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon.

Why it matters

The pardons highlight Trump's continued willingness to grant clemency to high-profile individuals, particularly those with sports backgrounds. The move raises questions about the president's motivations and the broader implications for the criminal justice system.

The details

The five players were convicted of a range of offenses - Klecko pleaded guilty to perjury, Newton was charged with drug trafficking, Lewis and Henry pleaded guilty to drug-related crimes, and Cannon admitted to counterfeiting. Despite their criminal histories, all five had successful NFL careers, with multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections between them.

  • The pardons were announced by the White House on February 13, 2026.

The players

Joe Klecko

A former star defensive lineman for the New York Jets who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. He pleaded guilty to perjury after lying to a federal grand jury investigating insurance fraud.

Nate Newton

A former offensive lineman who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. He pleaded guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge after authorities found $10,000 and 175 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle.

Jamal Lewis

A former running back who played for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. He pleaded guilty to a drug case in which he used a cellphone to try to set up a drug deal shortly after being a top draft pick in 2000.

Travis Henry

A former running back who played for the Denver Broncos. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine for financing a drug ring that moved the drug between Colorado and Montana.

Billy Cannon

A former player with the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs. He won the 1959 Heisman Trophy while at Louisiana State University and was posthumously pardoned for admitting to counterfeiting in the mid-1980s after bad investments and debts left him broke.

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The takeaway

The pardons of these former NFL players, some of whom committed serious crimes, highlight the continued willingness of President Trump to grant clemency to high-profile individuals, particularly those with sports backgrounds. This raises questions about the motivations behind the pardons and the broader implications for the criminal justice system.