A former Dallas Cowboys star has received a presidential pardon. Nate Newton was one of five former NFL players pardoned by Donald Trump last Thursday in a move announced by the White House.

This announcement came to light via White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson, who posted on X.

“As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation," Alice Marie Johnson wrote. Other veterans who were pardoned were the late Billy Cannon, Jamal Lewis, Joe Kleckow, and Travis Henry.

She especially mentioned that this news was told to Nate Newton personally by the Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones. “Special thanks to Jerry Jones for personally sharing the news with Nate Newton. I’m holding Nate’s pardon in my hands today - what a blessed day,” she added. 

Newton, a former offensive lineman for the Cowboys, pleaded guilty to federal d***-related charges and was sentenced to two years from 2002 to 2004. 

Joe Klecko was a former defensive lineman for the New York Jets and was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1981. He had pleaded guilty to perjury before a grand jury.

Jamal Lewis won the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens and was voted NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2003. He was sentenced to 5 months in 2005 on d***-related charges. 

The late Billy Cannon, who had an 11-year pro career with the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs, winning three AFL Championships, admitted to counterfeiting in the mid-1980s.

Travis Henry, who played for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Denver Broncos and was named to a Pro Bowl in 2002, was sentenced to 5 years in 2009 for d***-related charges.

Nate Newton was elated upon receiving pardon news from Jerry Jones

Nate Newton couldn’t be happier to receive the news of his pardon from the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones himself. 

"Me and Mr. Jones have had a lot of talks. Some good, some not so good. He tells it like it is. He said, 'You've been pardoned by the President.' I just sat there for about 30 seconds to a minute. I was stunned. But I told him, 'You tell the President, thank you very much.'" Newton said.

"I told Mr. Jones that I want to continue to do the right things, because it's a trust thing. You're starting to earn the trust back. It's been a lot of years since those things that I've done against society and individuals. I've been truly blessed. It's a great thing," he said.

Newton has won the Super Bowl three times with the Dallas Cowboys. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and was part of the "Great Wall of Dallas" offensive line in the 90s.

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Written by

Shyam Hari

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi