Lloyd Howell Jr. was recently appointed as the executive director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). At age 59, it’s unclear if he has resigned from the position permanently. With tremendous appreciation for his work, we accept his decision to leave. In his statement, he admitted that his role as leader was overshadowing the organization’s critical work. Howell’s resignation is particularly extraordinary given the stormy waters the NFLPA finds itself in — still-circling investigations, double-dealing, and litigation swirling around Howell’s history.
In his resignation statement, Howell claimed he became a distraction to the NFLPA’s mission and was therefore leaving. He stated, “My leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day.” Howell’s tenure began in 2023, but it quickly became marred by controversy stemming from a lawsuit filed against him in 2011 for sexual discrimination and retaliation while he was a senior executive at Booz Allen.
Howell’s election as the NFLPA executive director raised further questions. A big question that remained was just how cognizant the supporting players were of the 2011 lawsuit. According to these reports, there was a clear divide between members. Others said they weren’t made aware of the scope of the allegations before voting. ESPN has reported on these developments comprehensively, focusing on the controversy over Howell’s appointment and its potential meaning for the association.
During this time, Howell held a part-time consulting position with The Carlyle Group. This is all complicated by the fact that this major firm has been actively supporting minority ownership in NFL franchises. After resigning from the NFLPA, Howell resigned from his consultancy with Carlyle. This firm truly shines as one of a very few firms in this special category of organizations. They’ve received affirmative league approval to pursue ownership opportunities within the league.
The NFLPA is facing some serious pressure at the moment. One of the things we know is that the FBI is investigating its financial dealings – in particular those dealing with OneTeam Partners, a multibillion-dollar licensing company connected to both the NFLPA and MLBPA. This investigation has certainly opened up even more questions about transparency and governance within both players’ associations.
The “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast released a deep dive into Howell’s case on June 24. That careful and nuanced analysis was found in an unusually detailed 61-page ruling. The ruling outlined various aspects of Howell’s leadership and involvement with the NFLPA, drawing attention to both his achievements and controversies.
Leave a Reply