The NFL Players Association has settled on its next executive director, concluding a search that union officials went to great lengths to keep under wraps.
Once again, the NFLPA will go outside of the pro football family for its next leader. The union announced on Wednesday that its board of player representatives elected Lloyd Howell as the next executive director.
Howell, who has spent more than 34 years with Booz Allen Hamilton — most recently serving as chief financial officer — will succeed DeMaurice Smith, who has held the job since 2009 and will conclude his tenure in 2024. Howell becomes the fourth executive director of the NFLPA, and like Smith, Howell didn’t have a background in pro football.
It is my pleasure to welcome Lloyd Howell as our new Executive Director! I am proud that our player leadership ran a professional, confidential search for the players, by the players. I know Lloyd will lead our union well into the future. pic.twitter.com/yTySBUNv4H
— JC Tretter (@JCTretter) June 28, 2023
NFLPA president J.C. Tretter acknowledged the fact that Howell lacks the experience of having played or worked in the NFL. But he stressed that entering the search for Smith’s replacement, “stakeholders,” (players past and present and board of representative members) agreed that NFL experience didn’t carry a high priority, but finding candidates with a strong track record of leadership did.
“The need to be a former player was not one that popped as a priority. … You don’t need to be a former player to be able to motivate and galvanize a group,” Tretter said in a virtual news conference. “So, we were really looking for anybody who was capable of that, and we found a great one.”
In a statement, Howell said, “The opportunity to represent the players is a privilege. I look forward to building relationships and the solidarity amongst our players. The history and strength of this institution is impressive, and I look forward to driving our bold goals and achieving them together in the future.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell congratulated Howell in a statement and said the league looks forward “to working with Lloyd and his team to continue growing the game and making it better, safer, and more accessible and attractive to fans around the world.”
Howell, 59, retired from Booz Allen Hamilton in December of 2022.
Smith, 59, came to the NFLPA in 2009 with a background as a trial lawyer. He led the negotiations of two collective bargaining agreements during his tenure as executive director.
Tretter, Smith and the members of the NFLPA’s board of player representatives went to great lengths to keep the field of candidates private.
Earlier this year, The Athletic reported that six candidates were under consideration. That list included former Falcons quarterback Matt Schaub, Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr., NFLPA chief operating officer Teri Patterson Smith, NFLPA senior director of player affairs Don Davis, NFLPA assistant director of external affairs George Atallah and former NFLPA president and retired player Domonique Foxworth.
It was believed that by late spring, NFLPA officials had narrowed the field to three, and people briefed on the situation did say that there was a strong external candidate. However, Howell’s name remained private.
Although Howell offers no previous NFL experience, NFLPA leaders found themselves impressed with the drive and level preparedness that he displayed during the interview process, according to a person involved in the deliberations.
Howell’s track record of leading and growing businesses made him attractive to the players, who saw their financial situations improve with the last two CBAs, and have hope that Howell can further improve their earning potential, working conditions and long-term security.
(Photo of DeMaurice Smith: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
