Nate Newton
Nate Newton has had many enjoyable conversations with Jerry Jones over the last 35 years.
But it's safe to say his meeting with the Cowboys owner this week will always be one of his favorites.
For it was Jones who personally delivered the news to Newton that he was one of five former NFL players to receive an official pardon from President Donald Trump.
"Me and Mr. Jones have had a lot of talks. Some good, some not so good. He tells it like it is," said Newton, who visited Jones at his office Thursday evening at The Star in Frisco. "He said, 'You've been pardoned from 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.'"
So what does this actually mean for Newton? That's a question even Jones asked the former offensive lineman.
"I told him, 'It's a great honor. It just means (Trump) is willing to tell America to wipe the slate clean." Mr. Jones said, 'For me, it means you've been a good guy for a lot of years now. And somebody found it in their heart to pardon you for what you've done in the past, because it's in the past.'"
Newton pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in 2001 and spent nearly two years in prison from 2002-04.
The pardon doesn't officially absolve citizens from their previous federal convictions or crimes but simply serves as a form of forgiveness and restores certain civil-rights functions, such as voting, holding office or serving on a jury.
"I told Mr. Jones that I want to continue to do the right things," Newton said, "and because it's a trust thing. People trust you now. You're starting to earn the trust back. At one point, you lose trust when people do egregious or bad things – you lose trust in them. And only time can get you that 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."
It's only a few times that I've been very appreciative about awards and honors. But the President, to have all that's going on in the world, for him to do that, I'm very appreciative."
One of the most decorated offensive linemen in Cowboys history, Newton was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection. He was a staple on the O-line in the 1990s that helped Dallas win three Super Bowls. Overall, he played 13 of his 14 seasons with the Cowboys, retiring from the league in 1999 after a short stint with the Carolina Panthers.
Newton, a standout at Florida A&M, was named to the Black College Football Hall of Fame back in 2022.
These days, Newton is a regular on the Cowboys' in-house media shows, such as the pregame and postgame shows during the season, as well as the podcast Hangin' with the Boys. He's also one of the hosts of Cowboys Cross-Talk, which features a weekly alumni guest for the radio show on 105.3 The Fan.
Newton was asked if he believes this pardon will help his cause to gain entrance into either the Pro Football Hall of Fame or even the Cowboys Ring of Honor at AT&T Stadium.
"I say this to people all the time, and I truly mean it. Some of those awards and honors, those are things that other people give you. I don't worry about that. The three biggest honors that really make me stick out my chest are this:
"No. 1, when I turned my life over to Christ. No. 2, when I made the Black College Football Hall of Fame. And No. 3 just happened last night when Mr. Jones told me this news. So I don't think about anything else right now because what I have … is what I need."
