On Friday morning, five former NFL players received word from the executive branch of the United States government. Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon received pardons from President Trump for past crimes.
Advertisement
MORE: Arizona Cardinals look to trade Kyler Murray ahead of new 2026 league year
The pardons were granted this morning by President Trump, effectively clearing his record of these crimes. These pardons addressed crimes ranging from minor drug charges to perjury.
Klecko, a former New York Jets player, was found guilty of perjury during a federal investigation. In that investigation, he lied to a federal grand jury about insurance fraud.Newton, a former Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys, was cleared of drug trafficking charges. He and another man were taken into custody, leading police to discover 175 pounds of marijuana.
Advertisement
Henry, a former Pro Bowl running back, was also convicted of drug trafficking. In addition, he was also convicted of financing drug trafficking.
MORE: NFL teams with the highest winning percentages in the last 10 years
Lewis, who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Cleveland Browns, was convicted of attempting to buy drugs. In that conviction, he was found to have organized a drug deal after being recruited in 2000.
Tennessee’s Jamal Lewis is caught by Vanderbilt’s Carlton Hall on January 31, 1997. 0203 Kcsp Recruit Lewis03
Cannon, a former Heisman winner at LSU, was convicted in the 1980s and was posthumously pardoned when he died in 2018. He was convicted of forgery.
Advertisement
President Trump has not yet issued a statement. White House pardons czar Alice Mary Johnson announced the pardons in a social media post.
— Enjoy free coverage of top news and trending stories on The Big Lead —
OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings as of February 13
NFL: NFL teams with highest winning percentages in the last 10 years
CFB: Ole Miss got a big boost from Trinidad Chambliss for the 2026 college football season
Major Leagues: Former World Series champion Dodgers to sign with Angels
National Football League: Complete list of NHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament
VIRAL: Myles Garrett and girlfriend Chloe Kim share touching moment after Olympic stun
Advertisement
The post President Trump Pardons Five Former NFL Players appeared first on The Big Lead.