The resignation of Lloyd Howell as NFLPA executive director followed a period of intense scrutiny, and J.C. Tretter’s name also came under examination during that time. Now, he’s also stepping away.
Tretter, formerly a center for the Cleveland Browns, served as the union’s chief strategy officer following two terms as president during his active playing career. On Sunday, he informed CBS Sports that he is withdrawing his candidacy for the interim executive director position and resigning from the union, citing the impact on his family.
He made this decision after reports indicated that he was one of two finalists for the interim executive director role, alongside NFLPA chief player officer Don Davis.
According to CBS Sports:
“My resignation isn’t because the accusations against me are true. … It’s not a resignation in disgrace. It’s because this has gone too far for me and my family, and I’ve endured it for six weeks. I felt like I’ve been left exposed, taking criticism for the benefit of the organization,” he stated.
“… This morning, I woke up and realized that I would keep sacrificing myself indefinitely, always prioritizing the organization’s needs. But what has the organization done for me in return? Nothing.
Tretter played a crucial role in Howell’s hiring, which has faced increased scrutiny following reports that players might have been unaware of a sexual discrimination lawsuit against Howell at his previous employer and that he had a significant conflict of interest as a consultant for the Carlyle Group. Last week, it was also revealed that a grievance successfully brought by the NFL against Tretter was concealed.
The possibility of Tretter replacing Howell when the vote was presented to the players was met with disbelief and criticism from some former players, many of whom had served in NFLPA leadership roles or as player representatives. A text message reportedly circulating among players described him as “the common denominator in all these scandals.”
Elevating Tretter to executive director would have signaled an endorsement of the NFLPA’s leadership in recent years, a notion that has become increasingly difficult to support.
The NFLPA’s Recent Struggles
The controversy began the previous month when Pablo Torre and Mike Florio reported that the NFL and NFLPA had suppressed a ruling on a collusion grievance. An arbitrator had concluded that the league encouraged its teams to reduce guaranteed money in 2022 following Deshaun Watson’s unprecedented, fully guaranteed contract.
Although the NFL technically won the grievance because arbitrator Christopher Droney determined he couldn’t definitively prove that NFL teams acted on that advice, he included a damning statement on page 55 of a 61-page document:
“It’s evident that the NFL Management Council, with the Commissioner’s approval, encouraged the 32 NFL Clubs to reduce guarantees in veterans’ contracts at the March 2022 annual owners’ meeting.”
The NFL’s motive for concealing this conclusion is clear. It supports the claims of many critics who believe the league is willing to bend the rules to suppress player compensation. The reason for the NFLPA’s agreement to keep this information from the public, and especially the players, was less clear. Questions were raised for Howell and the rest of the union’s leadership, and the situation worsened in the following weeks.
Following Howell’s resignation on Thursday, reports surfaced on Friday that he had expensed over $3,000 at strip clubs. While the NFLPA has never been considered the most esteemed or effective player union in sports, these recent developments were egregious enough that Tretter couldn’t escape the resulting backlash.
J.C. Tretter Defends Decisions, Drawing Comparison to ‘Game of Thrones’ Character
In an extensive interview with CBS, Tretter addressed several of the aforementioned issues, particularly the idea that he secretly pushed Howell into the executive director role.
Howell was one of two finalists, along with former SAG-AFTRA director David White. Tretter stated that while Howell performed better in interviews, the NFLPA executive committee voted 10-1 in favor of White, with Tretter among the 10. However, the committee did not communicate its preference to the 32 player representatives, who ultimately voted for Howell.
Tretter anticipates changes to the approval process in the future.
According to CBS Sports:
“We invested hundreds of hours and conducted multiple rounds of interviews. People were regularly flying into D.C. to meet candidates in person. It’s not feasible to do that for everyone,” he explained. “… The executive committee handles the day-to-day operations, while the board holds the approval rights.
“It’s a valid question. The board, the executive committee, and the players need to consider the process as they begin the next search. I’m not suggesting we did everything perfectly. We made decisions based on historical practices and a desire to try something different, believing it was the best option. We’ve learned since then. There will likely be changes, and there should be changes. They should implement a process they’re confident in and learn from every experience.”
Tretter also expressed regret over the quote about injuries and running backs that led to the concealed NFL grievance, calling it a “careless, joking remark.” He denied having access to the collusion grievance that Howell agreed with the NFL to keep confidential.
Overall, Tretter compared his role in these events to that of Tyrion Lannister. Here’s his explanation:
Tretter has been contemplating a specific scene from “Game of Thrones” in recent weeks. Tyrion Lannister is on trial for the murder of his nephew, King Joffrey, and although he didn’t commit the crime, he says he wishes he had.
“I wish I was the monster you think I am,” Lannister declares at his trial.
“I’ve felt similarly over the past six weeks,” Tretter said on Sunday. “I’m being accused of being this all-controlling, all-powerful figure, which I’m not. And I wish I were, because I don’t think we’d be in the situation we’re in now if I was.”
