David White named interim NFLPA executive director in 'player-led process'

The NFLPA has named a new interim executive director. David White will fill the position, the NFLPA announced in a press release on Sunday night.

“On behalf of the NFLPA’s Board of Player representatives, I am proud to share that David White has been elected to serve as our interim director,” the statement from NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin read. “This decision is the result of a comprehensive, player-led process. We understood the urgency to fill this role and did our due diligence to identify the right person to lead our union in this moment.

“We have full faith in David to take the union forward and operate in the best interests of our membership. 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.

“Soon, we will commence a thorough search process for a permanent executive director. This process will continue to be player led, as the strength of our union has and will always lie with our membership.”

So who is David White? ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided some lengthy biographical information in a tweet Sunday night.

White is the current CEO of 3CG Ventures, an executive coaching and strategic consulting firm. He has also previously served as the National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator of Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA). He also served as board Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Former NFLPA executive director resigns

The executive director position with the NFLPA came open in mid-July when Lloyd Howell announced his resignation. That came after an ESPN report surfaced about the hiring process and whether or not NFLPA members knew about a 2011 lawsuit.

ESPN reported Howell was sued for sexual discrimination and retaliation in 2011 while he worked at Booz Allen Hamilton as a senior director. There was a disagreement among those who voted for him about whether they knew about the suit upon his hiring in 2023.

“It’s clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day,” Howell wrote in his resignation letter. “For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season.”

At that point, the NFLPA convened and decided on a plan for replacing Howell. That will occur with an interim executive director now — David White — and a more permanent hire coming later, as the NFLPA laid out in its statement.