David White, the former executive director of SAG-AFTRA, has been elected to the same post at the NFL Players Association on an interim basis.
Players representing each of the league’s 32 teams voted white in on Sunday night to replace Lloyd Howell, whose short, scandal-plagued tenure ended last month.
“We have full faith in David to take the union forward and operate in the best interests of our membership,” NFLPA President Jalen Reeves-Maybin said in a statement posted on social media. “David has spent much of his career fighting for collectively bargained rights in the labor movement and is committed to putting players first in all the union does. We are confident that he will inspire solidarity and provide the necessary stability during this period of transition.”
White served as national executive director and lead negotiator of SAG-AFTRA from 2009 to 2021. For the past three years, he has been CEO of 3CG Ventures, an executive coaching and strategic consulting firm.
Howell, whose background is in finance, had a rocky two-year tenure leading the union. He was forced to resign a consulting role at the Carlyle Group due to a perceived conflict of interest once the league included the private equity firm on a roster of potential investors in teams. More recently, it was revealed that Howell had expensed roughly $3,000 in spending at strip clubs.
As the NFL continues to dominate the media landscape, it is looking to expand its empire by adding an 18th regular-season game and continuing its international growth. Both initiatives have raised concerns about player safety, with the NFLPA expected to offer pushback.
“I am grateful to the NFLPA’s player leadership for entrusting me with the privilege and responsibility to guide their union as interim executive director,” White said. “It’s a duty I do not take lightly, and I’m committed to re-establishing trust and ensuring the union is serving its members best. I look forward to working with the entire NFLPA team to protect players’ health and safety, secure their financial well-being, and further strengthen their voice to shape their futures.”
