Lloyd Howell Jr. Resigns as NFLPA Executive Director
Lloyd Howell Jr. has submitted his resignation as executive director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), arguing that his leadership has caused distractions in recent weeks.Howell added: “Our members deserve a union that fights relentlessly for their health, safety, financial future, and long-term well-being. My priority has been to lead that fight by serving this union with focus and dedication.” According to Howell, “It is clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work that the NFLPA does every day. For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am resigning as Executive Director of the NFLPA and President of the NFL Players Board, effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members before the next season.” Howell’s resignation comes after public scrutiny. It was revealed that he held a part-time consulting job with the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that has league approval to seek minority ownership in NFL franchises. This followed the revelation that the NFLPA and the league had a confidentiality agreement to keep secret an arbitrator’s ruling on possible collusion by owners regarding quarterback salaries. It was reported that two player representatives who voted in favor of Howell were unaware that he had been sued in 2011 for sexual discrimination and retaliation while he was an executive at Booz Allen. Howell submitted his resignation to the NFLPA executive committee on Thursday night. The committee is in contact with its members, and the board is expected to meet as soon as possible to determine the next steps, which could include an interim executive director.“Two years ago, I accepted the position of Executive Director of the NFLPA because I deeply believe in the mission of this union and in the power of collective action to drive positive change for the players of the most popular sport in the United States,” Howell stated in a statement issued Thursday night.
Lloyd Howell Jr.
“I am proud of what we have been able to achieve at the NFLPA in the last two years,” Howell said. “I will be cheering on the players from the sidelines with more enthusiasm than ever, and I know that the NFLPA will continue to ensure that the players remain firmly at the center of the future of football.”
Lloyd Howell Jr.
