TRUMP GRANTS PARDONS TO FIVE FORMER NFL PLAYERS CONVICTED OF CRIMES, INCLUDING PERJURY AND DRUG TRAFFICKING. (PHOTO).

Trump grants pardons to five former NFL players convicted of crimes, including perjury and drug trafficking

 President Donald Trump on Thursday granted pardons to five former professional football players — including one posthumously — wiping away convictions that ranged from perjury to large-scale drug offenses. The clemency announcement was made by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson, who praised the decision as an example of second chances and personal redemption. The players receiving pardons were Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon.

Johnson framed the pardons as symbolic of resilience and redemption, thanking Trump for what she described as his ongoing commitment to offering individuals an opportunity to rebuild their lives. She also revealed that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones personally informed Newton of the news. The White House did not provide additional details about the reasoning behind the pardons, though Trump has long been known as an enthusiastic supporter of professional sports.

Joe Klecko, a standout defensive lineman best known for his years with the New York Jets, had pleaded guilty to perjury after lying to a federal grand jury investigating insurance fraud. Despite that conviction, Klecko enjoyed a decorated football career, earning two Associated Press All-Pro selections and four Pro Bowl appearances before being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. Nate Newton, an offensive lineman who helped the Dallas Cowboys capture three Super Bowl titles, previously pleaded guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge after authorities found $10,000 in cash in his truck and 175 pounds of marijuana in a companion vehicle. Newton was a two-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection during his career.

Jamal Lewis, a former running back for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, pleaded guilty in a drug-related case after using a cellphone to attempt to arrange a narcotics transaction shortly after being selected near the top of the 2000 NFL Draft. Lewis went on to become one of the league’s top rushers, earning All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection, and was named the 2003 Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year. Travis Henry, who played running back for multiple teams, including the Denver Broncos, admitted guilt in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine after financing a drug operation that transported narcotics between Colorado and Montana. He was selected to one Pro Bowl during his career.

Billy Cannon, who received a posthumous pardon, had admitted to counterfeiting in the 1980s after a string of financial setbacks left him in severe debt. Cannon was a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl player in professional football and won the 1959 Heisman Trophy while starring at Louisiana State University. He is remembered in college football history for his iconic 89-yard punt return touchdown against Ole Miss. Cannon died in 2018, and the pardon clears his record years after his passing.