JC Tretter, the chief strategy officer of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), has announced his resignation from his position and has stepped away from consideration for the interim executive director role. In a candid interview with CBS Sports, Tretter expressed the emotional toll recent events have taken on his family, stating, "Over the last couple days, it has gotten very, very hard for my family. And that's something I can't deal with."
In his remarks, Tretter made it clear that he has "no interest in being executive director" and has communicated this decision to the NFLPA's executive committee. He stated, "I'm also going to leave the NFLPA in the coming days because I don't have anything left to give the organization." At just 34 years old, Tretter has been with the NFLPA since October 2024, previously serving as the player president from 2020 to 2024.
The announcement follows a wave of public criticism from former NFL players regarding Tretter's potential candidacy for the interim executive director position. Notably, former linebacker Will Compton expressed his disapproval on social media, calling the NFLPA "the dumbest Union in all of sports" and questioning Tretter's leadership during a time when players were reportedly being denied guaranteed contracts. Compton pointed out, "Let's vote for the guy who was in charge of hiring Lloyd Howell," referencing the former executive director who resigned last Thursday night.
Another former player and NFLPA executive committee member, Ben Watson, also weighed in, suggesting that the organization would be wise to remove Tretter from his current role. Tretter had been instrumental in the 16-month search process that led to Howell's appointment, during which he oversaw a vote that altered the NFLPA's constitution to make the search and election process more confidential.
During his tenure as player president in 2023, Tretter presided over significant events, including the NFLPA's lawsuit against team owners for alleged collusion to prevent guaranteed contracts. In a separate 2023 incident, the NFL filed a lawsuit against the union related to Tretter's comments suggesting that disgruntled running backs could feign injuries, a statement seen as a violation of the collective bargaining agreement.
Both grievances were resolved this year, but the outcomes were not publicly disclosed by either the NFL or the NFLPA. Reports indicate that confidentiality agreements obscured details from the 61-page decision regarding the collusion grievance.
As the NFLPA navigates this transitional period, the board of player representatives is scheduled to meet to discuss candidates for the interim director position. Among those being considered are Don Davis, the NFLPA's chief player officer; Zamir Cobb, executive director of the NFLPA trust; and Ned Ehrlich, associate general counsel for the NFLPA. The board will also deliberate on the selection process for the next executive director, determining whether the executive committee or the interim director will take the lead in this critical task.
