NFLPA Leader Steps Down Amid Scrutiny

Union Executive Director Howell Resigns Amid Multiple Investigations

NFL Players Association Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr. has resigned, concluding a turbulent two-year period leading the union. The announcement came late Thursday, citing his leadership as a distraction to the organization’s work.

Sudden Departure Shocks Executive Committee

Howell, 59, stated in a released message, “It’s clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day. For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season.” Sources indicated to ESPN that his resignation was voluntary and took some of the union’s 10 executive committee members by surprise.

NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr. has resigned.

Howell’s departure comes after a series of reports detailing controversies surrounding his tenure, including an FBI probe into finances and his consulting work with a firm seeking NFL ownership.

— ESPN (@espn) December 18, 2025

Mounting Pressure Follows Damaging Reports

Howell’s time at the helm was marked by increasing controversy, fueled by recent investigative reporting. A significant development involved an FBI inquiry into the financial dealings of both the NFLPA and the MLB Players Association, linked to the group-licensing firm OneTeam Partners. This probe reportedly prompted the NFLPA to retain legal counsel to review Howell’s actions.

Further compounding the issues, ESPN reported that Howell concurrently served as a paid, part-time consultant for the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm seeking NFL team investments. A union lawyer reportedly advised Howell to consider resigning due to this potential conflict of interest.

Confidentiality Deal and Lawsuit Emerge

Additionally, a confidentiality agreement Howell made with the NFL six months prior kept details of a January arbitration decision from players. This ruling had found that league executives encouraged owners to decrease guaranteed player compensation. The full ruling was later disclosed by the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast.

The scrutiny intensified with a report detailing a 2011 sexual discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed against Howell during his tenure at Booz Allen. A dispute arose concerning whether the player representatives who elected him as Executive Director were aware of this lawsuit.

As of Wednesday, two executive board members had publicly supported Howell’s leadership. However, the executive committee had pledged to carefully assess the raised issues, stating they would not “engage in a rush to judgement.”

Union Prepares for Transition

Sources revealed that the executive committee was communicating with players, and the board of player representatives was scheduled to convene promptly. This meeting will address immediate next steps, potentially including the appointment of an interim executive director.

Lloyd Howell Jr. succeeded DeMaurice Smith, who led the union from 2009 to 2023. Before Smith’s leadership, the NFLPA was headed by Gene Upshaw.

The NFLPA represents close to 2,000 professional football players. Player dissatisfaction has been a recurring theme, with one recent survey indicating that 70% of NFL players felt the union was not effectively addressing key issues like player safety and contract negotiations (Sporting News, 2025).