In a remarkable development that drew widespread attention across the sports community, President Donald Trump on Thursday, February 12, issued pardons to five former NFL players convicted of offenses ranging from perjury to drug trafficking, among them Dallas Cowboys icon Nate Newton and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Klecko.
White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson shared the clemency news on social media, noting that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was the one who personally informed Newton. The pardons also included former Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, ex-Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry, and a posthumous pardon for the late Billy Cannon, the Heisman Trophy winner who played for the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs.
“As football teaches us, greatness demands grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So does our country,” Johnson said, expressing gratitude to President Trump for his dedication to providing second chances.
Newton, now 64, spent 13 seasons with the Cowboys, earning six Pro Bowl nods as part of the “Great Wall of Dallas” offensive line that helped lead the team to three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s. His career came to an abrupt halt in 2001 after police found 175 pounds of marijuana and $10,000 during a traffic stop. He pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in 2002 and spent roughly two and a half years behind bars.
The two-time All-Pro shared his appreciation on social media Friday morning, thanking Jones directly for relaying the news and writing, “May God bless You, Mr. Jones and your Family.”
Following his release, Newton reinvented his life, shedding nearly half his body weight and participating in various community initiatives. The pardon eliminates a federal conviction that has followed the former left guard for over twenty years.
Klecko, a defensive lineman renowned for pressuring quarterbacks during his tenure with the New York Jets, received his pardon for a 1993 perjury conviction after lying to a federal grand jury probing insurance fraud. He served three months in prison. The four-time Pro Bowler entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, securing his place in NFL history despite previous legal issues.
Lewis, the 2003 AP Offensive Player of the Year with the Baltimore Ravens, pleaded guilty in a drug-related case involving the use of a cellphone to help arrange a cocaine transaction. The events took place shortly after Baltimore selected him fifth overall in the 2000 NFL draft, although he was not charged until 2004. He served four months in prison. Lewis, a one-time Pro Bowler, also spent part of his career with the Cleveland Browns.
Henry, a running back who earned a Pro Bowl appearance while playing for three teams—the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Denver Broncos—pleaded guilty in 2009 to conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Prosecutors said he funded a drug operation that transported cocaine between Colorado and Montana. He received a three-year federal prison sentence.
Cannon’s posthumous pardon carries significant historical resonance. The LSU star won the 1959 Heisman Trophy and delivered one of college football’s legendary plays with an 89-yard punt return against Ole Miss. He later earned two All-Pro honors during an 11-year pro career, primarily spent in the American Football League with the Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders before finishing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Later in life, Cannon faced financial collapse, which pushed him into counterfeiting in the mid-1980s after poor investments and growing debts. He served two and a half years in prison before restoring his reputation. Cannon obtained a dentistry degree and practiced for many years, eventually serving at the Louisiana State Penitentiary until his death in 2018.
The White House did not detail the reasoning or timing behind selecting these specific players, though President Trump has long expressed enthusiasm for football and often attended games during his first term. Johnson herself received a commutation from Trump in 2018 and a full pardon in 2020 for a nonviolent drug charge, and she has since advocated for criminal justice reform and opportunities for rehabilitated individuals.
The pardons come as the NFL offseason intensifies, with teams prepping for free agency and the 2026 draft. For Newton, Klecko, Lewis, and Henry, the clemency provides an opportunity to move forward without the burden of federal convictions. For Cannon’s family, the pardon brings a measure of closure for a man whose extraordinary athletic talent was later overshadowed by his mistakes.
The Cowboys offered no comment Friday when approached by local media outlets, though Jones’ personal involvement in notifying Newton highlights the team’s continued support for one of its stars from the championship era. Newton remains a fan favorite in Dallas for his dominant play on the offensive line during the franchise’s glory days.
These five pardons add to the expanding list of clemency actions Trump has issued since returning to office in January 2025, with Vice President JD Vance also voicing support for criminal justice reform efforts. Johnson noted she held Newton’s pardon papers in her hands Thursday, calling it “what a blessed day” and stressing that mercy changes lives.
