NFLPA Executive Committee Supports Lloyd Howell Jr.
The executive committee of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has expressed its support for Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr., denying any request for resignation from its board. The statement was issued in response to reports about certain issues.The committee has established a process to carefully evaluate the issues raised, avoiding hasty judgments. The focus is on collaborating with the Executive Director and NFLPA staff, always seeking the well-being of the players. The priority is to strengthen the partnership for the 2025 season. Previous reports highlighted that Howell works as a part-time consultant for The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm approved by the league. A source close to the matter indicated that a union lawyer asked Howell to consider resigning to avoid conflicts of interest if the firm acquires a stake in an NFL franchise, but Howell rejected the request. Howell, for his part, only remembers that a union employee raised concerns and that he committed to investigate before making a decision. Furthermore, a confidentiality agreement was revealed that concealed the details of a January 14 arbitration decision from the players, including findings on how league executives urged team owners to reduce guaranteed compensation to the players. Referee Christopher Droney ruled that there was insufficient evidence of collusion by the owners in contract negotiations with quarterbacks, following Deshaun Watson’s contract with the Cleveland Browns. Although Droney did not award any compensation, he did find evidence of “concerted action” by the league office at the March 2022 annual meeting. Howell informed the players about the decision, but did not provide details or copies. Confidentiality prevented the players from knowing the findings until a podcast published the referee’s full report on June 24. The NFLPA, under Howell’s leadership, decided to appeal the ruling, according to a source from the union.“As members of the NFLPA Executive Committee, we categorically reject the false reports that insinuate doubts within this committee or suggestions that we have asked our Executive Director to resign. We further reject attempts to misrepresent the committee’s views or divide our members,” stated the executive committee.
NFLPA Executive Committee
Howell was elected executive director of the NFLPA in 2023, replacing DeMaurice Smith.“The appeal is a reflection of our obligation to enforce the collective bargaining agreement and our commitment to protect the interests of our players,” the source said. “We will do what’s best for the players and exhaust our options to do so.”
NFLPA Source
