Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton publicly thanked President Donald Trump on Friday, February 13, 2026, after receiving a presidential pardon for a 2002 federal drug trafficking conviction. The pardon, delivered personally by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, restores certain civil rights, including the ability to vote, hold office and serve on a jury, though it does not officially absolve Newton of the original crime.
Newton, a three-time Super Bowl champion and a key member of the Cowboys’ 1990s dynasty, expressed his gratitude in a post on X, stating, “I would like to thank President Trump and all of those that work under him who place this Pardon into effect. Thank you, sir, for taking time out of your busy day in running this country.” He similarly thanked Jones “for sharing that great news last night,” adding, “May God bless You, Mr. Jones and your Family. Thank you my Friend!!!”
The pardon stems from a 2001 incident in which authorities discovered $10,000 in Newton’s pickup truck and 175 pounds of marijuana in a vehicle driven by an associate. Newton subsequently pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges and served nearly two years in prison, from 2002 to 2004. According to Newton, Jones informed him of the pardon during a meeting Thursday evening at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
“I just sat there for about 30 seconds to a minute. I was stunned,” Newton recounted to Jones, as reported by the Dallas Cowboys website. “But I told him, ‘You tell the President, thank you very much.’” Newton described the pardon as a sign that Trump was “willing to tell America to wipe the slate clean.” Jones added that the pardon signified Newton had “been a good guy for a lot of years now,” and that someone had “found it in their heart to pardon you for what you’ve done in the past, since it’s in the past.”
Newton was one of five former NFL players pardoned by President Trump on Thursday, February 12, 2026, according to a statement from White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson. Johnson stated on X that the pardons – including one posthumous pardon – reflected the values of “grit, grace, and the courage to rise again,” and highlighted Trump’s “continued commitment to second chances.” The other former players pardoned were Joe Klecko, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon.
Newton indicated his intention to continue “to do the right things,” emphasizing the importance of regaining trust. “People trust you now. You’re starting to earn the trust back,” he told Jones. He acknowledged that trust is lost through “egregious or bad things” and can only be restored over time.
