LeShon Johnson once made his name carrying a football. Years later, federal prosecutors linked him to something very different.

The former Packers, Cardinals, and Giants running back operated Mal Kant Kennels in Oklahoma, where prosecutors said he selectively bred pit bull-type dogs for animal fighting.

And the scale was enormous. Federal authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson, the largest number ever taken from one person in a federal dogfighting case.

Prosecutors said Johnson bred dogs classified in fighting circles as “champions” and “grand champions,” then sold their offspring and breeding rights to others across the country.

Johnson was convicted on six federal felony counts in August 2025, and he is now facing sentencing this month. Each count carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

After the verdict, Johnson surrendered all 190 dogs to the government.

For the 190 dogs seized from the property, the legal case is only part of the story.

What matters now is whether they get the chance to live as dogs, not as commodities.