Lloyd Howell Jr., who previously served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), has officially stepped down from his position at The Carlyle Group, according to a spokesperson’s confirmation to The Athletic. The spokesperson did not elaborate on the reasons or the exact timing of Howell’s resignation.
Howell’s departure comes closely on the heels of his resignation from the NFLPA, which was prompted by increasing criticism regarding the union’s leadership and concerns over potential conflicts of interest due to his concurrent consulting role with The Carlyle Group. Howell began his part-time engagement with the investment firm in March 2023, prior to his election as the NFLPA’s executive director three months later. Despite the NFL approving minority investors, including The Carlyle Group, in August 2024, Howell maintained his affiliation with the firm.
Sources familiar with the NFLPA’s hiring process indicated that union leadership was aware of Howell’s side position during his hiring. When The Carlyle Group sought to invest in the NFL a year later, discussions surrounding Howell’s dual roles emerged. Lawyers for both organizations determined that his work with the aerospace and defense division was sufficiently separated from the NFL’s operations.
Amidst these developments, an NFLPA insider contradicted claims from ESPN that there had been an attorney’s recommendation for Howell to resign from The Carlyle Group while continuing his tenure with the NFLPA. Other sources within the union indicated they had no knowledge of such a request.
Recent investigations from ESPN and other outlets exposed significant issues within the union’s leadership, including allegations that the NFLPA entered a confidentiality agreement with the NFL aimed at hiding key information regarding an arbitration decision linked to potential collusion over guaranteed contracts. In his resignation statement from the NFLPA, Howell acknowledged, “It’s clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day.”
Furthermore, JC Tretter, a former NFLPA chief strategy officer and a potential candidate for interim executive director, announced his resignation from the organization as well. Tretter clarified in a CBS interview that he has no interest in pursuing the interim role or being associated with the NFLPA moving forward. The NFLPA executive board is expected to convene in the coming days to outline the process for appointing an interim replacement.
While these transitions may seem daunting for the NFLPA, it presents an opportunity for fresh leadership to emerge and address the challenges faced by the players’ union, fostering a more transparent and effective organization moving forward.