Trump Pardons Five Former NFL Players for Past Federal Perjury, Drug and Counterfeiting Convictions
President Trump pardoned five former NFL players — Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon — for past federal convictions including perjury, drug trafficking and counterfeiting. The list includes Klecko, whose 1993 perjury conviction was tied to insurance fraud, and Cannon, who was sentenced in 1983 to five years for his role in a roughly $6 million counterfeiting scheme. The move comes amid a broader clemency pattern in Trump’s second term that includes more than 1,500 Jan. 6–related pardons and nearly 100 other pardons.
📌 Key Facts
- On Feb. 13, 2026, MS NOW reported that former President Trump pardoned five ex‑NFL players: Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon.
- The pardons relate to past federal convictions encompassing perjury, drug and counterfeiting offenses.
- MS NOW says the outlet reviewed the underlying offenses and sentences for each player; it specifically notes Cannon received a five‑year federal sentence in 1983 for a $6 million counterfeiting scheme and Klecko was convicted of perjury in 1993 in connection with insurance fraud.
- The announcement of the pardons was made by the administration’s so‑called 'pardon czar' (per MS NOW).
- MS NOW places these clemencies within a broader pattern in Trump’s second term, reporting more than 1,500 Jan. 6–related pardons plus nearly 100 other pardons issued so far.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 13, 2026
8:11 PM
Trump pardons 5 ex-NFL players, ‘pardon czar’ announces
New information:
- Confirms the list of five ex‑NFL players: Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon.
- Details the underlying offenses and sentences for each, including Cannon’s 1983 five‑year federal sentence over a $6 million counterfeiting scheme and Klecko’s 1993 perjury conviction tied to insurance fraud.
- States that Trump has issued more than 1,500 Jan. 6–related pardons plus nearly 100 other pardons so far in his second term, placing these clemencies in that broader pattern.