Trump Pardons 5 Former NFL Players, Including Hall of Famer Joe Klecko

The pardons cover a range of offenses, from perjury to drug trafficking, as the former president continues to grant clemency to high-profile figures.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

President Donald Trump has issued federal pardons to five former NFL players, including Hall of Fame defensive tackle Joe Klecko. The other players pardoned are Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon. The pardons cover a variety of offenses, including perjury, drug trafficking, and counterfeiting.

Why it matters

Trump's pardons of high-profile former athletes continue to raise questions about the use of presidential clemency power, particularly for individuals with criminal records related to drugs and other serious crimes. The pardons highlight the ongoing debate around criminal justice reform and second chances for those who have served their time.

The details

Klecko, who played most of his career with the New York Jets, pleaded guilty to perjury in 1993 after lying to a federal grand jury amid an insurance fraud investigation. He served three months in prison. Newton, a former Cowboys guard, pleaded guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge in 2002. Lewis, a former Ravens and Browns running back, was arrested shortly after being drafted in 2000 for using a cellphone to try and set up a drug deal. Henry, a former Pro Bowler, was arrested in 2008 for his role in a drug trafficking ring. Cannon, who died in 2018, was implicated in a counterfeiting scheme in the 1980s.

  • In May 2025, Trump announced he would grant full pardons to reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley.
  • In November 2025, Trump pardoned eight-time MLB All-Star Darryl Strawberry for a tax evasion charge from 1995.

The players

Joe Klecko

A Hall of Fame defensive tackle who played most of his career with the New York Jets, Klecko pleaded guilty to perjury in 1993 after lying to a federal grand jury amid an insurance fraud investigation. He served three months in prison.

Nate Newton

A former guard who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, Newton pleaded guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge in 2002 after police found $10,000 in his truck and 175 pounds of marijuana in an accompanying car.

Jamal Lewis

A former running back who played seven seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and two with the Cleveland Browns, Lewis was arrested shortly after being drafted in 2000 for using a cellphone to try and set up a drug deal. He was later arrested in 2004 on charges of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.

Travis Henry

A former Pro Bowler and national champion at the University of Tennessee, Henry was arrested in 2008 for his role in a drug trafficking ring. He accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to three years in prison, serving two years before his release.

Billy Cannon

A former NFL player who died in 2018 at age 80, Cannon was implicated in a counterfeiting scheme in the 1980s in which he printed $6 million in counterfeit money. He pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and dealing counterfeit money, serving two and a half years of his five-year prison sentence.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“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)

“I'm holding Nate's pardon in my hands today. What a blessed day.”

— Alice Marie Johnson, White House pardon czar (X)

“Grateful to @POTUS for his continued commitment to second chances. Mercy changes lives.”

— Alice Marie Johnson, White House pardon czar (X)

The takeaway

Trump's pardons of former NFL players with criminal records continue to stir debate around the use of presidential clemency power and the balance between punishment, rehabilitation, and second chances in the criminal justice system.