Is LeShon Johnson married? All we know about ex-NFL player found guilty in dog fighting case

Ex NFL player, LeShon Johnson, who is married to a woman named Nalani, has been found guilty in a dog fighting case. According to New York Post, Johnson was found guilty of violating the Animal Welfare Act and is currently awaiting sentancing.

LeShon Johnson was arrested back in October 2024, and according to People Magazine, at the time of his arrest, he was running a large operation involving one ninety "pitt bull type" dogs, where he "selectively bred champion dogs." Later, in March, he was formally charged with running the illegal dog fighting ring in Oklahoma. Attorney General, Pam Bondi had released a statement in March condemning Johnson's actions. She said:

"Animal abuse is cruel, depraved, and deserves severe punishment. The Department of Justice will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and will remain committed to protecting innocent animals from those who would do them harm.'

More about LeShon Johnson, as the former Arizona Cardinals player is convicted for his role in a dog fighting operation

LeShon Johnson, whose full name is LeShon Eugene Johnson, was born on January 15, 1971 and began playing football from an young age. He attended Haskell High School and later went on to play at Northern Illinois University.

According to New York Post, after his college football career LeShon Johnson was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1994 draft. He spent one year with the Packers before being transferred to the Arizona Cardinals. He had a rising career with the Cardinals, where played for three years until his lymphoma cancer diagnosis in 1998.

His diagnosis came just a little over a week after his marrige to his girlfriend, Nalani, whom he had previously met while visiting a gym in Tulsa. The couple had also welcomed two children by the time the news of his cancer diagnosis was revealed. In a June 1998 interview with The New York Times, LeShon, Johnson talked about how his wife supported him through his cancer diagnosis by researching information online. He said:

"She can get on the internet and find out anything. She can fly in and out of all those websites. I am very lucky to have her."

According to New York Post, just a year later, it was announced that Johnson was cancer free. In an interview with the outlet, Nalani reflected on the difficult year and said:

“Last Thanksgiving was probably one of the most depressing holidays. It was a little depressing because, No. 1, obviously we were dealing with LeShon’s illness, and two, we couldn’t be with our family because he was going through his treatment. I believe the reason we didn’t go home was because his white cell count was too low, and so therefore he couldn’t be in large crowds of people where he could get sick, so the airport was like out of the question and an airplane ride was out of the question."

She further shared how the family planned to celebrate their thanksgiving after receiving the good news. She said:

“This Thanksgiving we’re having friends over, we’re having the traditional Thanksgiving meal again. It almost feels like last year never happened sometimes, although we appreciate life a lot more now. We never take anything for granted, we’re thankful for every single day that we have together because you know obviously some people aren’t as fortunate as we are to overcome a disease, an illness, as he did. We definitely have a lot more to be thankful for. So Thanksgiving is definitely gonna be a special day this year."

In 1999, LeShon Johnson returned to the NFL, this time playing for the New York Giants for just one season. According to New York Post, this is not the first time that Johnson has been convicted on charges related to a dog fighting operation. Back in 2004, he had pleaded guilty to similar charges.

According to People Magazine, LeShon Johnson ran what is called the "Mat Kant Kennels" between two cities of Oklahoma. Kash Patel, the current Director of the FBI, also released a statement regarding the case. He said:

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"The FBI will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting. Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, those who continue to engage in organized animal fighting and cruelty will face justice."

LeShon Johnson could face up to five years in prison for each of the charges for which he has been convicted.

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