NFL Players Association Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr. Resigns Amid Strip Club Scandal

Strategic Insights -

Former NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. has resigned, citing that his leadership has become a distraction to the union's important work. The resignation comes after an expense report revealed that Howell and two union employees visited a strip club in downtown Atlanta during the NFLPA summit in February, incurring $2,426 in charges. The outing was reportedly for a "Player Engagement Event to support & grow our Union." This is not the first time Howell has been linked to a strip club, as he also expensed a trip to a Miami strip club in November 2023.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lloyd Howell Jr., former NFL Players Association executive director, resigned on Thursday, citing distraction to the union's work.
  • An expense report revealed that Howell and two union employees visited a strip club in downtown Atlanta during the NFLPA summit in February, incurring $2,426 in charges.
  • The outing was reported as a "Player Engagement Event to support & grow our Union."
  • Howell also expensed a trip to a Miami strip club in November 2023.
  • The visit to the Atlanta strip club, Magic City, is currently the subject of a docuseries on Starz, "Magic City: An American Fantasy."
  • Howell came under scrutiny recently for entering into a confidentiality agreement with the NFL in January that hid the details of an arbitration decision.
  • The NFLPA's executive committee backed Howell as recently as last Sunday, saying they would not engage in a rush to judgment.
  • Falcons player representative for the NFLPA is All-Pro right guard Chris Lindstrom, with co-alternates safety Jessie Bates III and punter Bradley Pinion.

Statistics:

  • $2,426: The amount of charges incurred by Howell and two union employees during their visit to the Atlanta strip club.
  • 61: The number of pages in the arbitration ruling published by the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast on June 24.
  • $230 million: The amount of the five-year, fully guaranteed deal given to Deshaun Watson by the Browns.
  • 2023: The year in which Howell was paid $3.6 million and entered into a confidentiality agreement with the NFL.

Sources:

  • ESPN
  • Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast
  • Magic City: An American Fantasy docuseries on Starz