NFLPA leadership backs director Lloyd Howell Jr. amid reports - ESPN

The NFL Players Association's executive committee, in a message sent to membership, expressed its support for executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. and denied it asked him to resign as it looks into issues reported by ESPN last week.

«As members of the NFLPA Executive Committee, we categorically reject false reports insinuating doubts within this committee or suggestions that we have asked our Executive Director to step down. We further reject attempts to mischaracterize the committee's views or divide our membership,» the executive committee said in the statement obtained by ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday.

«We have established a deliberate process to carefully assess the issues that have been raised and will not engage in a rush to judgement. We believe in and remain committed to working with our Executive Director and other members of NFLPA staff and player leadership who have a shared mission to advance the best interests of players. As we approach the 2025 season, we look forward to continuing our important work together and ensuring the strength and unity of our association.»

ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. and Kalyn Kahler reported last week that Howell is working as a paid, part-time consultant for the Carlyle Group, one of a select group of league-approved private equity firms now seeking minority ownership in NFL franchises. A source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN that a union lawyer asked Howell to consider resigning from the private equity firm to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest if it ends up taking an ownership stake in an NFL franchise, but Howell declined to step away from Carlyle.

However, a source familiar with the matter told ESPN that Howell recalls only that concerns were raised by «a