NFL Players Union Must Return to its Roots of Unity and Strength
In the world of professional sports, labor negotiations can often make headlines, especially when it comes to securing fair compensation and better conditions for athletes. Two leagues, in particular, have been making waves recently: the National Football League (NFL) and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is currently facing a storm of challenges, with a federal criminal investigation into its finances, potential misuse of funds, and self-enrichment by union officials. This crisis is compounded by recent high-profile resignations of key union leaders, leaving the NFLPA in a state of leadership vacuum and weakened internal solidarity just as it prepares for tough upcoming collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations with the NFL.
Key issues in the next CBA will likely include the league’s push to expand the regular season to 18 games and possibly increase international games, alongside fights over revenue sharing and salary cap integrity, with the players currently receiving 48.5% of revenue, less than the 50-50 split they have sought.
Meanwhile, WNBA players are demonstrating a different approach. Their labor negotiations are marked by a clear, simple messaging such as "Pay Us What You Owe Us," which appears to have a more unified and straightforward appeal compared to the NFLPA’s internal struggles. The WNBA players' approach reflects a focused, collective effort to secure fair compensation and better conditions, contrasting with the NFLPA's fracturing leadership and membership apathy during a period requiring strong unity.
George Atallah, the founder and CEO of Somebody Advisors, a strategic consulting practice at the intersection of business, sports, and entertainment, values intangible skills like purpose, trust, character, and authenticity in sports. According to Atallah, these intangibles have played a crucial role in the success of both WNBA players and NFL players in the past.
In 2011, for instance, NFL players drew strength from similar principles, fostering an "us against the world" mentality during a lockout. The WNBA players, despite having lower salaries, less history, and fewer tangible resources, are leading with these intangible skills for a fighting chance.
The NFLPA's ethos includes striving for quality of life improvements that may not show up on financials, such as benefits, health and safety, post-career protections, and countless services beyond just money. The power of being unified in sentiment and action creates leverage in upcoming negotiations for WNBA players, as solidarity is often difficult to implement in unions, and the challenges faced by the NFLPA expose its elusiveness.
Atallah served as the assistant executive director of external affairs for the NFL Players Association from 2009-2025, and he emphasises that athletes striving for economic value require strong skills, but transformative change calls for pairing those skills with unity and collective purpose.
The current state of the NFLPA has sparked concerns among athletes, management, fans, and even former players. The power of unity and collective purpose is evident in the WNBA players' approach, and it serves as a reminder of the strength that can be harnessed when intangibles like passion, heart, and soul are combined with a clear, unified vision.
- Despite the NFLPA's current challenges, such as a federal investigation and leadership vacancy, an effective collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in the National Football League (NFL) will hinge on unity and collective purpose among the players.
- In contrast to the NFLPA's difficulties, WNBA players are exhibiting a strong and united front during their labor negotiations, demonstrating the power of intangible skills like purpose, trust, character, and authenticity in securing fair compensation and better conditions.
- George Atallah, a strategic consultant at the intersection of business, sports, and entertainment, underscores the importance of intangible skills like passion, heart, and soul in addition to strong skills for athletes striving for economic value, as these qualities can help foster solidarity and create leverage during negotiations.
