Trump Pardons Ex-NFL Convicts—Why?

President Trump just reminded America that the Constitution gives the president real clemency power—and he used it to wipe clean the records of five former NFL players convicted of serious crimes.

Quick Take

President Donald Trump issued pardons on Feb. 12, 2026, to five former NFL players, including a posthumous pardon for Billy Cannon.
The cases involved convictions tied to perjury, drug trafficking or conspiracy, and counterfeiting, spanning from the 1980s through the early 2000s.
White House pardon adviser Alice Marie Johnson announced the move publicly and framed it as a “second chances” message.
Public reporting did not include a detailed White House explanation for why these specific individuals were selected.

What Trump Did and Who Was Pardoned

President Trump granted clemency to Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and Billy Cannon, a former college star who was pardoned posthumously. The reported offenses ranged from perjury tied to an insurance fraud probe to drug-related trafficking and conspiracy cases, plus a counterfeiting conviction linked to financial collapse. The pardons were issued Feb. 12, 2026, and were publicly announced the same day.

Alice Marie Johnson, serving as the White House’s pardon adviser, made the announcement on social media and emphasized redemption and restoration. Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys owner, was reported to have personally informed Newton about the pardon—an example of how tightly connected sports networks can remain long after a player’s last snap. News accounts said the White House did not provide additional comment about the motivations behind the selections.

The Underlying Crimes Spanned Decades and Different Circumstances

Reporting described each case as rooted in a different moment, but with a common theme: serious legal trouble after fame or early in a pro career. Cannon’s counterfeiting case dated back to the mid-1980s and was tied to financial ruin; he died in 2018. Lewis was linked to an attempted drug deal shortly after being drafted in 2000. Newton’s case centered on a 2001 marijuana trafficking incident; Henry pleaded guilty in a cocaine conspiracy linked to a multistate ring.

Klecko’s case differed from the others because it focused on perjury connected to an insurance fraud investigation rather than drug trafficking. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, and the pardon now removes a major legal stain that followed his post-playing life. Public reports did not provide full sentencing details or a comprehensive accounting of restitution or other case-specific conditions, which limits how precisely the public can compare severity across the five cases.

How the Constitution Structures Clemency—and Why It Matters

Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution gives presidents broad authority to grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses, and that power has long been controversial because it is intentionally strong and largely discretionary. The Justice Department maintains a running list of clemency grants during Trump’s current term. Those records show that clemency has been used for a wide range of offenses, including drug-related crimes, underscoring that these NFL cases fit within a broader pattern of clemency activity.

Redemption Messaging vs. Equal-Justice Questions

Johnson’s public statement framed the decision as a national “second chances” message, using football language about grit and rising again. That framing will resonate with many Americans who believe in rehabilitation, personal responsibility, and the idea that a debt can be paid. At the same time, available reporting also leaves an obvious unanswered question: why these specific high-profile former athletes, and why now? The public record cited in coverage does not provide a detailed selection rationale.

That absence of a detailed explanation is not proof of wrongdoing, but it does matter for public confidence. Clemency can correct injustices, and it can also look like favoritism if the standards are unclear. In this case, the reporting emphasizes celebrity, football achievement, and personal outreach from influential figures like an NFL owner—details that will fuel debate even among voters who support the constitutional power itself. More transparency would help Americans judge consistency without guessing motives.

President Donald Trump on Thursday pardoned five former professional football players — one posthumously — for various crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking. https://t.co/hAeJXgFSTQ

— Local 4 WDIV Detroit (@Local4News) February 13, 2026

For conservatives, the bigger takeaway is that the pardon power is explicitly constitutional, but it should still be used carefully because it shapes public expectations about accountability. These pardons also land in a political era after years of frustration with selective enforcement, bureaucratic overreach, and high-profile double standards. The available sources confirm the pardons and the basic case histories; they do not show the internal criteria used. Until more detail is released, Americans are left with verified outcomes and unanswered “why” questions.