In a shocking turn of events, Lloyd Howell Jr., the former leader of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), has resigned following revelations about questionable expense reports. An outside investigator hired by the union uncovered documents indicating that Howell had billed the NFLPA for two visits to strip clubs, including a staggering $738.82 car service charge for transportation from the airport to one of the establishments. This troubling information came to light just hours before Howell's abrupt resignation late Thursday night.
The documents in question include union-approved expense reports and receipts, which were initially brought to light by ESPN. According to one of the receipts obtained by the sports news outlet, Howell was picked up by a car service at Fort Lauderdale International Airport on November 2, 2023, at 10:26 p.m. The car made its first stop at a nearby address in Miami Gardens, which was later identified as Tootsie's Cabaret, reputedly the world's largest strip club.
Nearly eight hours later, at 6 a.m., the car returned Howell to his luxury condominium in Sunny Isles Beach. The exorbitant cost of the car service raised eyebrows among union staff, prompting a young finance worker to investigate. Upon Googling the Miami Gardens address, the employee discovered it was linked to a strip club. This prompted the finance worker to escalate the issue to the union's travel department for a more thorough review.
In addition to the incident in Florida, Howell and two other employees were reported to have visited a strip club in Atlanta during this year's NFLPA summit on February 21. Expense reports indicate that the outing, labeled as a "Player Engagement Event," incurred charges of $2,426, which included cash withdrawals from an ATM within the club. Sources confirmed that Howell instructed one of the employees to file the expense reports following this outing.
One employee’s expense report noted a charge of $736 to close the tab for secluded sections reserved for union members, covering food, drinks, taxes, and gratuity. Notably, the receipts do not list any players' names, raising questions about potential reimbursement violations flagged in the reports.
As the investigation into Howell's activities continued, a special committee of players hired Ronald C. Machen, a lawyer from Wilmer Hale, to conduct a thorough review. Federal labor laws strictly regulate union expenses to protect union members whose dues fund operations, making the scrutiny of Howell's reimbursements particularly significant. Labor lawyer Bob Stropp emphasized that the car service reimbursement would likely attract attention from the U.S. Department of Labor.
According to former union officials, the NFLPA has stringent guidelines regarding reimbursement for entertainment expenses, especially in venues like strip clubs. A former employee remarked that while there are no explicit exclusions for such venues, using union funds for strip club visits is not considered a prudent choice.
Howell, who was elected union president in 2024 and earned $3.6 million last year, has a history of controversy, including past scrutiny related to his previous employer, Booz Allen. Howell faced questions regarding a strip club visit during company time in 2015, which resulted in disciplinary actions against a colleague while Howell himself received a reprimand. The incident occurred during a sexual discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against Booz Allen, where Howell was a defendant.
In his resignation statement, Howell acknowledged that his leadership had become a distraction for the NFLPA, stating, "I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season." While some members of the NFLPA's executive committee attempted to persuade him to stay during a lengthy conference call, Howell's decision to resign was ultimately made on his own.
The controversy surrounding Howell's resignation comes amid ongoing investigations into the NFLPA's financial dealings, including scrutiny from the FBI regarding a multibillion-dollar group-licensing firm, OneTeam Partners. As reports from ESPN continue to surface, including Howell's role as a paid consultant for the Carlyle Group, the NFLPA faces significant challenges as it seeks to maintain trust and integrity among its members.
With Howell's resignation, the NFLPA must now navigate the implications of these revelations and work to restore confidence among its players and stakeholders as the new season approaches.
