Former Super Bowl Champ Wendell Smallwood Indicted on Fraud, Faces 50 Years

Wendell Smallwood faces three felony charges, accused of defrauding COVID-19 relief programs for financial gain.

Former NFL running back and Super Bowl champion Wendell Smallwood has been indicted on three felony charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the IRS.

Federal prosecutors allege that Smallwood submitted falsified documents to government COVID-19 relief programs on behalf of his businesses to secure funds fraudulently.

Court documents reveal that if convicted, the former Philadelphia Eagles player could face up to 50 years in prison. Smallwood, who has not entered a plea deal, is scheduled to appear in court in late December. His attorney, Mark B. Sheppard, expressed confidence in an acquittal, stating, "Wendell has cooperated fully with this investigation."

This isn’t Smallwood’s first brush with the law. In 2014, he faced accusations of witness tampering in a murder case but was later cleared after cooperating with prosecutors. A fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Smallwood was part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII-winning roster. His NFL career included stints with the Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Smallwood’s legal challenges mark a dramatic turn for the former player, whose career spanned 53 games with 931 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.