The NFL Players Association is now at one of the most difficult, but also important, points in its history, as it looks to rebuild its organization in the wake of the late Thursday resignation of embattled executive director Lloyd Howell. The union’s challenges are only building.
The departure of Howell after just two years with the union follows a series of mounting issues, including conflict-of-interest and sexual-discrimination claims during the course of his career, before and during his NFLPA tenure. In addition to internal issues, however, the next NFLPA leader will need to navigate a series of pressing matters as the business of pro football expands significantly and grows more complex. Among them:
- Building a relationship with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: Team owners are working on a contract extension that would keep the 66-year-old Goodell in place through around 2030, meaning there will be no change at the very top of management’s leadership in the near future.
- An 18-game schedule: Momentum continues to build around expanding the regular season, advancing upon the addition of the 17th game in 2021. The next union leader will have two big fights to manage on this issue: an internal one, as many players are strongly against a further lengthening of the season, and one with the league, as pressure will be high to extract key concessions should they agree to the 18th game.
- Exploding media revenues: The league is all but certain to exercise contract opt-outs in 2029 and 2030 in its current domestic media-rights deals. The move will allow it to garner even greater revenue and leverage its growing power as by far the most-watched programming in all of U.S. television, regardless of genre. As a result, it will be incumbent on the next NFLPA leader to make sure players are capturing a requisite share of that additional revenue.
- The next labor deal: The current labor agreement expires in March 2031, and the 10-year pact has been widely described as more owner-friendly, and to that end, barely passed the vote of NFLPA membership in 2020. Preparation for the next round of talks will begin well before the end of this decade, particularly as the schedule and media issues develop, players will likely be eager for an improved pact.
- Health and safety: Concussions fell sharply in 2024 as helmet technology has improved, but soft-tissue injuries remain a concern around the league. Players also continue to be upset that FIFA was able to get grass fields installed in many NFL stadiums for the 2025 Club World Cup and 2026 men’s World Cup, while NFL games in many of those instances are still on artificial and hybrid surfaces.
- International profile: A full-season slate of non-U.S. games is also a virtual lock, as part of an accelerating global strategy that will include seven such contests this year. More overseas games means more lengthy travel, and the union will need to preserve player wellness amid those heightened demands.
“There are a series of opportunities out there that are coming up—things that would benefit players past, present, and future—and can only be fully addressed with a strong, intelligent, and thoughtful union leader,” Marc Ganis, president of Chicago-based Sportscorp Ltd. and a longtime sports industry consultant, tells Front Office Sports.
