Union leader Lloyd Howell resigns amidst NFLPA disputes
NFL Players Association Under Investigation and Leadership Change
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is currently under investigation by the FBI for potential financial improprieties involving OneTeam Partners, a group-licensing firm co-founded by the NFLPA and the Major League Baseball Players Association. This investigation includes allegations of misuse of funds and self-enrichment by union officials.
On July 17, 2025, Lloyd Howell Jr., the former executive director of the NFLPA, resigned amidst controversy over his business ties and use of union funds. He faced criticism for expensing trips to strip clubs and for his involvement with The Carlyle Group, a company that can invest in NFL teams.
In a statement, Howell expressed his commitment to the union's mission and the welfare of its members. However, his resignation comes after an internal audit of OneTeam Partners led by attorney Richard Smith was improperly shut down by Howell, according to attorney Heather McPhee. This move is part of a broader investigation into whether OneTeam board members improperly allocated equity shares to themselves.
McPhee, an NFLPA lawyer since 2009, wrote memos that suggested potential legal jeopardy regarding OneTeam's bonus plans for its board members. These memos contributed to the FBI probe into the NFLPA's financial dealings. McPhee was placed on paid leave due to allegations of bullying colleagues, ignoring supervisors' directions, and disrupting operations. The NFLPA hired an outside law firm to investigate these claims.
The FBI and federal prosecutors are investigating the union's financial dealings related to OneTeam Partners. The Carlyle Group was one of the private equity firms approved to invest in NFL teams up to a 10% minority stake last August. Lloyd Howell was a paid part-time consultant for The Carlyle Group since March 2023. However, the article does not provide any new information about Howell's business ties or his role as a consultant for The Carlyle Group.
Separately, the NFLPA fired an arbitrator who ruled on a case involving JC Tretter. The specific details of the JC Tretter case and the reasons for the arbitrator's firing were not provided in the article. The firing of the arbitrator occurred earlier on the same day as Howell's resignation.
Lloyd Howell earned $3.34 million during his first full year at the NFLPA, covering the fiscal year ending Feb. 28. Prior to his tenure at the NFLPA, Howell spent 34 years at consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.
The situation remains fluid, with ongoing investigations and changes in leadership within the NFLPA. The FBI investigation is ongoing, and a special players' committee has hired attorney Ron Machen to review Howell's tenure and governance issues within the union.
Key Entities Involved: | Entity | Description | |---|---| | NFLPA | The NFL Players Association, facing federal and internal investigations into its finances and governance. | | OneTeam Partners | A group-licensing firm co-founded by the NFLPA and MLBPA, involved in the investigation. | | Lloyd Howell Jr. | Former NFLPA executive director, under scrutiny for business ties and use of union funds. | | Heather McPhee | NFLPA lawyer whose memos led to the FBI probe, now on leave due to workplace complaints. |
The sports-analysis of the NFLPA's financial situation reveals ongoing investigations by the FBI, involving allegations of misuse of funds and self-enrichment by union officials. The American-football world watches closely as analysis of the NFLPA's dealings with OneTeam Partners, a sports-licensing firm, unfolds. In the midst of this, the analysis of Lloyd Howell Jr., the former NFLPA executive director, demonstrates controversy over his business ties and use of union funds.
