Trump pardons 5 former NFL players for crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking

[milestogo]

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday pardoned five former professional football players — one posthumously — for various crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking.

The pardons were announced by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson. Ex-NFL players Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon were granted the clemency.

"As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation," Johnson wrote on the social media site X, as she thanked Trump for his "continued commitment to second chances."

Johnson said Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones "personally" shared the news with Newton, who won three Super Bowls with the team. The White House did not return a request for comment Thursday night on why Trump, an avid sports fan, pardoned the players.

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/13/nx-s1-5713307/trump-nfl-pardons

Football players are now above the law... I guess that's good news for a lot of them.

[flvegan]

1. It's nice to see pro athletes hanging on to enough money to afford this.

Too often you hear of their fortunes squandered foolishly.

[milestogo]

3. I think you forgot the sarcasm emoji.

[flvegan]

5. Do I really need it though?

[rampartd]

4. cannon printed money in his dentist office

i don't know if that counts as "hanging on to money"

[unblock]

6. Please tell me he used a canon photocopier

[rampartd]

9. that would be cute

it has been many years, but i think it was the old fashioned engraving plates, pressing out $100s one at a time.

after further review $6M buried in 2 ice chests.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1983/07/21/the-cannon-counterfeit-case-is-a-perplexing-one/62837967007/

[milestogo]

12. I heard he invented the cannonball.

[flvegan]

7. Spoken like a true anti-dentite.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[rampartd]

10. i've had it in for dentists ever since they filled my teeth with mercury.

they had to pull my teeth for the radiation treatments , but my advice is

"take care of your teeth,"

[rampartd]

2. cannon was a counterfeiter

one great punt return on halloween night gets him on local tv once per year, but seriously.

[Hey Joe]

8. I just find it so strange that our

“Law and order president “ has such affinity for criminals!!

/s

[milestogo]

13. He has an affinity for "manly men" and underage girls.

"Manly men" includes billionnaires, first responders, and pro athletes. Liking them makes him manly.

[BlueKota]

16. My guess is he'd pardon anyone.

That is as long as they fawn over him and give him a sizeable "donation," to his next self aggrandizing project.

[Johonny]

11. Dealing drugs is okay if you played football, bad if you ride on a boat

The random rules of the stupid Trump administration. The softest administration on crime we've ever had.

[hvn_nbr_2]

14. I recently thought about Billy Cannon, wondering what ever became of him

I remembered "My Weekly Reader" in elementary school had an article about him while he was still in college, but I couldn't remember anything after that.

[milestogo]

15. OMG I haven't thought about the 'weekly reader' in years.

Best Journalism Ever.