NFL Players Association Executive Director Lloyd Howell, who is under investigation by the FBI and is a consultant with a pre-approved private investment firm — the Carlyle Group — which is allowed to purchase up to 10 percent of NFL franchises, has stepped down from his position in the players’ union, according to ESPN. In his statement to the union, Howell stated, “It’s clear that my leadership has become a distraction.”
Hey, at least he has a little awareness.
Howell’s resignation comes on the heels of Pablo Torre’s Thursday reporting, which revealed that the NFLPA and NFL buried the fact that NFLPA Chief Strategy Officer, JC Tretter, lost the union a grievance over faking injuries. Why would the two sides choose not to disclose this? Possible horse trading to agree to also bury the NFL’s collusion grievance, which, since coming to light, has now been appealed by the union.
This would have given the NFL a win, not admitting to attempting to collude over guarantees, and also the NFLPA leadership a win, as they didn’t have to admit that Tretter stepped on a landmine on a 2023 podcast.
Tretter was originally a President of the NFLPA during his playing days. Under Tretter’s leadership, the NFLPA ran a secretive search for its next Executive Director, who would ultimately be Howell. When Tretter graduated out of his President role, due to no longer being a player in the league, Howell made Tretter a new position: Chief Strategy Officer.
Since this scandal began, we’ve learned a lot about Howell and Tretter. This includes that under Howell’s leadership as CFO of Booz Allen, the company had to pay out $377 million in a fraud settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. It was also revealed yesterday that Howell was sued for sexual discrimination and retaliation while with the company.
According to former Booz Allen partner Margo Fitzpatrick, Howell told her in 2009 that finance is “a good ole boys club in which only men could succeed.” Howell also allegedly asked women at Booz Allen if they were sorority members, because they caused “drama.” Fitzpatrick ultimately never advanced up the career ladder at Booz Allen and was eventually terminated, according to the lawsuit.
As recently as Sunday, the NFLPA executive committee had openly backed Howell as Executive Director. According to an internal union message leaked to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFLPA board of representatives will meet in the coming days to figure out an interim executive director, as there is no provision in the union’s constitution on the subject.
There is one union representative on the NFLPA board of representatives per team. For the Green Bay Packers, that man will be right tackle Zach Tom, with the co-alternates being quarterback Jordan Love and linebacker Quay Walker. Kicker Brandon McManus also serves as one of nine vice presidents of the union, a role he’s served since 2022.