Trump grants pardons to five former NFL players

February 16, 2026 Oliver Obel

President Donald Trump has granted clemency to five former NFL players, extending pardons in cases that span more than 40 years and include offenses ranging from fraud to large-scale drug trafficking.

The announcement was made Thursday by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson, who framed the decision around redemption. In a post on X, Johnson wrote, as reported by The Guardian: “As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation.”

Presidential pardons constitute formal forgiveness under federal law. According to the BBC, a pardon “represents legal forgiveness, ends any further punishment and restores rights such as being able to vote or run for public office.” While a conviction remains on record, remaining penalties are lifted.

The move is the latest in a series of clemency actions Trump has taken involving prominent figures in sports and business decisions that often generate both praise and criticism.

Drug-Related Cases

Several of the pardons involve drug convictions from the early 2000s.

Jamal Lewis, the former Baltimore Ravens running back who was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, was sentenced the following year to four years in prison after pleading guilty to using a cellphone in an attempt to arrange a drug deal.

Travis Henry, who spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos, was sent to prison for three years in 2009 for financing a multi-state cocaine trafficking operation.

Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton also received clemency. A two-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion, Newton served 30 days in jail in 2002 after authorities stopped him near Dallas and discovered 175 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle.

Newton publicly thanked Trump after the pardon was announced, saying:

“I would like to thank President Trump and all of those that work under him who put this Pardon into effect.

“Thank you, sir, for taking time out of your busy day in running this country. Thank you, sincerely, and may God bless you.”

Fraud and Counterfeiting Convictions

Two older cases date back to the 1980s and 1990s.

Joe Klecko, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and former New York Jets defensive tackle, served three months in prison in 1993 after admitting he lied to a federal grand jury investigating an auto-insurance fraud scheme.

Billy Cannon, a standout halfback and two-time All-Pro, began serving a five-year sentence in 1983 for his role in a counterfeit money operation. He completed three years before his release. Cannon died in 2018 at age 80.

For the athletes involved, the pardons formally restore certain civil rights and close legal chapters that, in some cases, began decades ago.

Sources: BBC, The Guardian