Former NFLPA Chief Resigns From Carlyle Amid Series of Scandals

Former NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned from the Carlyle Group, a spokesperson confirmed to Front Office Sports. This came days after Howell stepped down from his role at the players’ union.

Howell was hired as a part-time consultant for the aerospace and defense investment team at Carlyle—one of several private-equity firms approved to invest in NFL teams.

Carlyle declined to comment on any details regarding Howell’s resignation.

Reports have surfaced over the last week that led to criticism of Howell’s position and appearance of a conflict of interest. Howell resigned from the NFLPA on Thursday.

The drama began when an episode of the podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out reported that the NFL and NFLPA, the labor union representing players, hid a bombshell arbitrator’s ruling in a union grievance about collusion, surprising even current players. The NFLPA claimed the NFL and its owners colluded in order to stem the idea of fully guaranteed contracts from becoming a trend. The arbitrator ruled in favor of the league, saying the NFLPA had failed to adequately prove there was collusion. There was also the revelation of a sexual discrimination lawsuit Howell faced in 2011 while working as an executive at Booz Allen, as well as the fact that he holds a part-time, paid consultant role with Carlyle Group. 

Most recently, ESPN reported that it obtained a union-approved expense report with receipts showing that Howell charged the union for two visits to strip clubs, including a $738.82 car service between the airport and one of the clubs. 

As of Tuesday Howell was still listed on Carlyle’s website, saying he’s an “Operating Executive focused on the aerospace and defense sector.” The NFLPA declined to comment.