Feb 14, 2026
3 min read
The White House pardoned five former NFL players on Thursday, and the reaction was louder than a packed stadium.
On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Alice Marie Johnson announced that President Donald Trump has pardoned five former NFL players, including Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and Dr.Billy Cannon.
"As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace and the courage to get back up. So does our nation," Marie wrote on X/Twitter."Special thanks to Jerry Jones who shared the news with Nate Newton in person. Today I hold Nate's grace in my hands - what a blessed day."
"Grateful (to Trump) for his continued commitment to second chances. Grace changes lives."
The announcement quickly sparked a backlash on social media, with critics accusing the administration of hypocrisy and election fraud.
"'Mercy changes lives(?)' so isn't mercy 'soft on crime?'Boy, who (knows)," one user wrote.
Another added: "Law and order party huh? What a joke."
The pardon spans decades and covers a range of federal offenses, from perjury and forgery to drug trafficking.
Here's a closer look at the cases involving each former player:
Former Jets lineman and Hall of Famer Joe Klecko pleaded guilty to perjury in the early 1990s.He pleaded guilty to lying to a federal grand jury during an investigation into an auto insurance fraud scheme.He was initially sentenced to three months in prison.
Former Cowboys quarterback and three-time Super Bowl champion Nate Newton was convicted of drug trafficking in 2002. He was caught with 175 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle and served 30 months in federal prison.
The pardon particularly angered another user, who commented, "F---ing Nate Newton got busted (twice) separately with over 600 pounds of weed. I'm sure there are people who deserve more forgiveness."
Former Ravens running back Jamal Lewis pleaded guilty in 2004 to using a cell phone to facilitate a cocaine deal.Although no drugs changed hands, he agreed to help the dealer in the transaction and was jailed for four months.
Pro-Bowl running back Travis Henry was sentenced to three years in federal prison in 2009 for conspiracy to traffic cocaine.He was convicted of financing a drug ring that transported cocaine between Colorado and Montana.
Dr. Billy Cannon, two-time Pro Bowler, 1959 Heisman Trophy winner, posthumously pardoned.In 1983, he was convicted of playing a leading role in a massive counterfeiting operation.He financed the printing of millions of dollars worth of counterfeit $100 bills and served two and a half years in prison.
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