NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell Steps Down Amid Mounting Controversies

Lloyd Howell Jr. has resigned as executive director of the NFL Players Association, citing distractions his leadership has caused in recent weeks. The announcement came late Thursday night, ending his two-year tenure as head of the union representing NFL players.

"It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day," Howell, 59, said in a statement released by the union. "For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately."

Strip Club Expense Scandal Emerges

New revelations have emerged that may have contributed to Howell's sudden departure. According to ESPN, an outside investigator received documents this week showing that Howell charged the NFLPA for visits to strip clubs during his tenure as executive director.

The expenses included:

• A visit to Miami in November 2024, with charges of more than $700 for car service
• More than $2,400 at Magic City in Atlanta earlier this year, including cash withdrawals ranging from $200 to $525

Howell reportedly instructed another employee to submit the expense reports, with the expenditures justified as "Player Engagement Event to support & grow our Union."

Pattern of Behavior

This wasn't Howell's first incident involving strip club expenses. In 2015, while at Booz Allen Hamilton, Howell and a colleague reportedly "racked up thousands of dollars for the night's entertainment" at a Manhattan strip club. His colleague sought reimbursement on an expense report, leading to Howell being reprimanded and his colleague being fired.

Questions about the hiring process have also emerged, including whether the NFLPA knew about Howell's previous strip club expense issues at Booz Allen. The hiring process was conducted in extreme secrecy, and there are potential conflicts of interest involving the search firm Russell Reynolds and subsequent NFLPA hiring decisions.

Multiple Controversies

The strip club expenses represent just the latest in a series of controversies that mounted over recent weeks:

FBI Investigation: The FBI is investigating the financial dealings of the NFLPA and the MLB Players Association related to OneTeam Partners, a multibillion-dollar group-licensing firm. Howell and MLBPA head Tony Clark are both on OneTeam's board of directors.

Conflict of Interest: Howell was working as a paid, part-time consultant for the Carlyle Group, one of the league-approved private equity firms seeking ownership in NFL teams. He earned $3.4 million from the union last year.

Collusion Case Handling: The union's handling of an arbitrator's ruling in a collusion case raised concerns about transparency. The NFLPA struck a confidentiality agreement with the NFL to conceal salary details from players.

Sexual Discrimination Lawsuit: ESPN reported that Howell was sued for sexual discrimination and retaliation in 2011 while he was a senior executive at Booz Allen and that a dispute emerged about whether the players who voted for him as NFLPA executive director were aware of that lawsuit prior to his 2023 election.

Background

The players elected Howell, the former chief financial officer of consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, in June 2023 to succeed DeMaurice Smith. Sources told ESPN that Howell resigned on his own and surprised some members of the NFLPA's 10-person executive committee, which had selected him as a finalist for the top job after a 16-month search.

As recently as late Wednesday, two executive board members still gave a ringing endorsement to Howell's leadership, saying "We felt great about the process" and "We are 100% behind Lloyd."

What's Next

The executive committee is expected to meet as soon as possible to figure out the next steps, which could include naming an interim executive director. The resignation comes at a critical time as the NFL continues to explore an 18-game season expansion and teams begin reporting to training camp.

The mounting scandals raise questions about the oversight and governance of the players' union, with some wondering whether federal prosecutors might take a closer look at the organization's operations.

"I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish at the NFLPA over the past two years," Howell said. "I will be rooting for the players from the sidelines as loud as ever, and I know the NFLPA will continue to ensure that players remain firmly at the center of football's future."