by Dollita Okine, Face2FaceAfrica.com
Wendell Smallwood Jr., a former NFL player, has been granted early release from prison to support his daughter during her battle with cancer. The 32-year-old, who played running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in September 2025 for federal fraud charges.
He was accused of filing fraudulent tax returns and applications for substantial amounts of Covid-19 pandemic aid. Smallwood pleaded guilty in September 2024 and was incarcerated until his sentencing.
Earlier this year, he entered a guilty plea in a separate gun possession case out of New Jersey, which led to him serving a concurrent three-year state prison sentence.
However, according to Delaware Online, Smallwood will be freed after Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Renard Scott withdrew his state guilty plea on August 7, citing Smallwood’s daughter’s illness, according to the Daily Mail.
The father of three will now be able to spend his final days with his eight-year-old daughter, Mila, who was given a cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Mila, Smallwood’s oldest child, received a diagnosis of diffuse anaplastic Wilms tumor, a rare and aggressive type of kidney cancer in children.
She is said to have received chemotherapy treatments in between prison visits to see her father.
But according to reports, the treatment was unsuccessful, and Mila is currently receiving palliative care, with doctors saying that she may only have a few days or weeks to live.
Yaron Helmer, Smallwood’s lawyer, told the outlet, “This is not just a matter of legal semantics. It’s about whether his daughter will hold her dad again.”
Helmer had said that Smallwood could be freed as early as August 17.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help Smallwood’s wife Autumn and their family deal with the financial burden of the diagnosis. Autumn and Smallwood also have two sons, Blaze and Scottie.
“Since that day, life has become a whirlwind of hospital stays, treatments, procedures, and unimaginable decisions. Every day has required incredible strength from this family,” the page read.
“Most recently, Mila experienced another heartbreaking setback. The path forward now depends on how she heals in the coming days and on the guidance of additional expert opinions. Like any parent, Autumn and Wendell want to know they have explored every possible option available.
“Throughout this journey, they have been surrounded by an incredible community. Family, friends, neighbors, classmates, and loved ones—including those like the Seider family—have blessed them with childcare support, prayers, cards, gifts, and unwavering love.
“While that support has meant the world, the financial burden of this diagnosis and fight are beginning to mount.”
Smallwood’s early release is said to have been influenced by his federal prison record and his participation in rehabilitation programs.
But a July ruling by an appeals court turned out to be crucial. Smallwood was able to change his plea in the unrelated gun possession case after it was decided that New Jersey’s assault weapons ban was unconstitutional.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected West Virginia University’s Smallwood in the 2016 NFL Draft. During his two seasons with the Eagles, he participated in the team’s 2018 Super Bowl triumph over the New England Patriots.
Smallwood played a season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders after leaving Philadelphia. He returned to Washington for his last stint on an NFL roster after some time with Jacksonville.
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