In a noteworthy move that captured broad attention throughout the sports world, President Donald Trump on Thursday, February 12, 2026, granted pardons to five former NFL players convicted of crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking, including Dallas Cowboys standout Nate Newton and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Klecko.
White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson announced the clemency on social media, stating that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones personally delivered the news to Newton. Other recipients 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 remarked, expressing thanks to President Trump for his commitment to offering second chances.
Newton, now 64, spent 13 seasons with the Cowboys, earning six Pro Bowl selections as part of the “Great Wall of Dallas” offensive line that helped secure three Super Bowl victories in the 1990s. His career ended abruptly in 2001 after authorities discovered 175 pounds of marijuana and $10,000 during a traffic stop. He pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in 2002 and served about two and a half years in prison.
The two-time All-Pro expressed his gratitude on social media Friday morning, thanking Jones directly for delivering the news and writing, “May God bless You, Mr. Jones and your Family.”
After his release, Newton transformed his life, losing nearly half his body weight and engaging in multiple community programs. The pardon removes a federal conviction that has followed the former left guard for more than two decades.
Klecko, a defensive lineman known for his ability to pressure quarterbacks during his years with the New York Jets, received a pardon for a 1993 perjury conviction involving false statements to a federal grand jury investigating insurance fraud. He served three months in prison. The four-time Pro Bowler was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, solidifying his legacy despite earlier legal troubles.
Lewis, the 2003 AP Offensive Player of the Year with the Baltimore Ravens, pleaded guilty in a drug case related to using a cellphone to help arrange a cocaine deal. The events occurred shortly after Baltimore drafted him fifth overall in 2000, though charges weren’t filed until 2004. He served four months in prison. Lewis, a one-time Pro Bowler, also played for the Cleveland Browns.
Henry, a running back who earned a Pro Bowl selection during a career that spanned the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Denver Broncos, pleaded guilty in 2009 to conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Prosecutors alleged he financed a drug ring moving cocaine between Colorado and Montana. He was sentenced to three years in federal prison.
Cannon’s posthumous pardon carries substantial historical importance. The LSU star claimed the 1959 Heisman Trophy and produced one of college football’s most memorable plays with an 89-yard punt return against Ole Miss. He later earned two All-Pro honors during an 11-year professional career, primarily in the American Football League with the Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders, before ending his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Later in life, Cannon suffered severe financial difficulties, leading him into counterfeiting in the mid-1980s after a string of bad investments and mounting debts. He served two and a half years in prison before rebuilding his life. Cannon earned a dentistry degree and practiced for many years, ultimately working at the Louisiana State Penitentiary until his passing in 2018.
The White House did not explain its reasoning or timing in selecting these particular players, though President Trump has long expressed his fondness for football and frequently attended games during his first term. Johnson herself received a commutation in 2018 and a full pardon in 2020 from Trump for a nonviolent drug offense, and she has since become an advocate for criminal justice reform and opportunities for rehabilitated individuals.
The pardons arrive as the NFL offseason ramps up, with teams preparing for free agency and the 2026 draft. For Newton, Klecko, Lewis, and Henry, the clemency offers a chance to move forward without the weight of federal convictions. For Cannon’s family, it provides a sense of closure for a man whose remarkable athletic career was later overshadowed by personal mistakes.
The Cowboys declined to comment Friday when contacted by local media outlets, though Jones’ personal role in informing Newton underscores the organization’s ongoing support for one of its stars from its championship years. Newton remains a popular figure in Dallas for his dominant performance on the offensive line during the team’s glory era.
These five pardons join the growing list of clemency actions Trump has authorized since returning to the presidency in January 2025, with Vice President JD Vance also advocating for criminal justice reform. Johnson said she held Newton’s pardon documents in her hands Thursday, calling it “what a blessed day” and emphasizing that mercy changes lives.
