David White Steps In as Interim NFLPA Chief

Summary:

• David White has stepped in as Lloyd Howell’s replacement as interim executive director.
• Howell resigned following scandals involving misuse of the NFLPA funds and conflicts of interest.
• The former SAG-AFTRA head is expected to bring stability during the transition.

The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) has a new boss, following late Sunday night’s union decision to vote in David White as interim executive director. The announcement comes after Lloyd Howell’s sudden resignation in July.

White’s appointment came amid a series of interviews with both internal and external candidates.

All 32 NFL team player reps reportedly participated in Sunday’s vote, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The NFLPA will “soon” initiate a “thorough search process for a permanent executive director”.

In his statement, the Rhodes Scholar and graduate of Stanford Law School, Oxford University, and Grinnell College expressed gratitude for being entrusted with “the privilege and responsibility” to guide the union from his new position, a “duty” that he does “not take lightly”.

“I’m committed to re-establishing trust and ensuring the union is serving its members best”, the seasoned labor leader who served as executive director of SAG-AFTRA added.

White also also held leadership roles, including the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s board chair. More recently, he’s been the chief executive officer of 3CG Ventures, a consulting and coaching firm.

In the past, he practiced labor and employment law at O’Melveny & Myers LLP and also co-founded Entertainment Strategies Group LLC, a Los Angeles-based consulting firm with a focus on the entertainment business.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin: “We Have Full Faith in David”

The union hasn’t announced how long White will stay in his new position. However, the goal is to bring steadiness to the union.

In his official statement on behalf of the Board of Player Representatives, NFLPA President Jalen Reeves-Maybin explained the decision was “the result of a comprehensive, player-led process”.

We understood the urgency to fill this role and did our due diligence to identify the right person to lead our union in this moment.

Reeves-Maybin added, while expressing their “full faith” in White’s ability to “take the union forward and operate in the best interests” of their membership.

The President also acknowledges White’s lengthy fights for “collectively bargained rights in the labor movement” as well as his commitment “to putting players first in all the union does”.

Controversial Times for the Union

White’s arrival follows a string of controversies that have shaken confidence in the union’s leadership.

First came reports that the NFL and NFLPA suppressed the outcome of a collusion grievance over guaranteed contracts, which found the league had encouraged teams to limit fully guaranteed deals after Deshaun Watson’s blockbuster contract.

Soon after, Howell resigned following reports that he spent thousands at strip clubs and had conflicts tied to his consulting role with the Carlyle Group.

Adding to the disarray, former NFLPA president J.C. Tretter stepped down as chief strategy officer and withdrew from consideration as interim director, despite once being a frontrunner for the job.

Now, White is tasked with guiding the union through a period of deep scrutiny, while trying to rebuild trust with the players.