A Father's Final Plea: Former NFL Running Back Wendell Smallwood Jr. Granted Early Release to Be with Dying Daughter

Wendell Smallwood Jr., a former running back for the Philadelphia Eagles who has been incarcerated since 2024, has been granted an early release from prison so he can be with his 8-year-old daughter, Mila, as she battles terminal cancer.

On Aug. 7, Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Renard Scott withdrew Smallwood's guilty plea in a New Jersey gun possession case, citing his daughter's terminal illness as a compelling reason for the decision. The judge acknowledged that the situation was an "unfortunate" circumstance that "none of us would want to face".

"This is an illness that is untreatable," Scott said. "His daughter has days, possibly weeks remaining".

The Crimes That Landed Him in Prison

Smallwood's legal troubles began with two separate cases. In September 2024, he pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges after being accused of defrauding the government's COVID-19 relief programs of over $645,000. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison in September 2025.

He was also serving a concurrent three-year state prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree possession of an assault firearm in New Jersey in an unrelated case. Smallwood had purchased the gun in Pennsylvania and stored it in his basement in New Jersey, where state law at the time made possession of that weapon illegal.

A Rare and Aggressive Cancer

Smallwood's daughter, Mila, was diagnosed with diffuse anaplastic Wilms tumor, an aggressive and rare childhood kidney cancer. She underwent rounds of chemotherapy, but the treatment was unsuccessful, and she is now in palliative care. Doctors have given her only days or weeks to live.

"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," read a GoFundMe page set up to support Smallwood's wife Autumn and their family.

The Legal Battle for Release

Smallwood's path to early release was made possible by a July ruling from the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, which struck down New Jersey's ban on assault weapons as unconstitutional. That decision provided Smallwood with legal grounds to withdraw his guilty plea in the gun case.

At an emergency hearing on Aug. 7, Smallwood's attorney, Yaron Helmer, argued passionately for his client's release. "They can't do anything except make her comfortable now. This is not just a matter of legal semantics," Helmer told the judge. "It's about whether his daughter will hold her dad again".

Prosecutors argued against the petition, suggesting that Smallwood should instead seek a federal furlough, a temporary, unescorted release from prison. Helmer countered that the process would take too long. "It is fluff. It does not help. Time is urgent," he said.

Judge Scott sided with the defense, noting that Smallwood was approximately three months away from qualifying for parole, but that "that very well may be too late." The judge also noted that Smallwood posed no danger to the community and had taken responsibility for his mistake.

A Family's Fight

Smallwood's early release was also influenced by his federal prison record and participation in rehabilitation programs. He is the father of three children: Mila and sons Blaze and Scottie.

"We are grateful for this step forward, but our biggest fight is still Mila's," Smallwood's wife, Autumn, wrote in an email to The News Journal. "Please continue to keep her in your prayers as she continues to fight".

A Brief NFL Career

Smallwood was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He rushed for 850 yards and five touchdowns across three seasons with the Eagles and was a member of the Super Bowl LII championship team.

He later played for the Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jacksonville Jaguars before his retirement in 2021.

A Father's Final Wish

Helmer told the court that Smallwood could be released as early as Monday, Aug. 17. His release will allow him to be by his daughter's side during her final days, a moment that, just weeks ago, seemed impossible.

If you would like to support the Smallwood family, a GoFundMe page has been established to help with the financial burden of Mila's medical care.