National Football League Players' Association
Encyclopedia
The National Football League Players Association, or NFLPA, is the labor organization for the professional football
players in the National Football League
(NFL). It has been at times a professional association, as well as a labor union. The goal of the current organization is to represent all players in matters concerning wages, hours, and working conditions, to protect players' rights as professional athletes, to ensure the terms of a collective bargaining agreement are met, to negotiate and monitor retirement and insurance benefits, to provide assistance to charitable and community organizations, and to enhance and defend the image of players and their profession on and off the field. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the NFLPA is led by President Kevin Mawae
and Executive Director DeMaurice Smith
.
Although it was founded in 1956, the NFLPA did not receive official recognition by the NFL until 1968 when a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was reached. After an adverse court decision in 1989, the union formally renounced its collective bargaining rights, converting into a professional association in order to pursue antitrust
litigation designed to win free agency
for its members. From 1989 to 1993, a series of lawsuits were filed by the NFLPA against the NFL, most notably one involving Freeman McNeil
of the New York Jets
and the other involving Reggie White
of the Philadelphia Eagles
. These lawsuits caused negotiations for an antitrust settlement, and that settlement paved the way for the NFLPA to reconstitute as a union and to negotiate a new CBA in the spring of 1993. Following the end of the 2008 season, the NFL team owners opted out of the extended 1993 CBA, which caused the agreement to expire at the end of an uncapped
2010 season. The NFLPA again renounced its collective bargaining rights on March 11, 2011, the date the agreement expired, to allow the players to pursue antitrust litigation through a class action through a class action filed by Tom Brady
and other notable players. The NFL and the players came to terms on a new antitrust settlement on July 25, 2011, and the players thereafter signed union authorization cars to have the NFLPA reconstitute as a union. A new CBA was then negotiated and that agreement was ratified on August 4, 2011.
's refusal to play an exhibition game without compensation resulted in his trade from the Redskins to Philadelphia. With the pending arrival of the All-America Football Conference
(AAFC) in 1946, the NFL created a rule to ban a player for five years from NFL associated employment if he had left the NFL to join the AAFC. This didn't stop all players from switching leagues. For example, Bill Radovich
played for the Detroit Lions in 1945 and then left the NFL and played for the Los Angeles Dons in the AAFC. Subsequently, Radovich was blacklisted by the NFL and was prevented from gaining employment with a team from the Pacific Coast League
. Unable to land a job in the NFL or the Pacific Coast League
, Radovich filed suit against the NFL seeking damages.The actual formation of the NFLPA came when two players from the Browns, Abe Gibron
and Dante Lavelli
, approached a lawyer, Creighton Miller
, to form an association to help the players. They were eventually supported by both the Browns' and the Packers' players, and they announced the formation of the NFLPA in 1956. The new association initially requested that the clubs provide players with pay for exhibition games, a minimum league-wide salary and per diem
pay, uniforms and equipment paid for and maintained at the clubs' expense, and continued payment of their salaries when they were injured and unable to play. Don Shula
of the Baltimore Colts
, John Gordy
of the Detroit Lions
, Frank Gifford
and Sam Huff
of the New York Giants
, and Norm Van Brocklin
of the Los Angeles Rams led this effort.
, who was a former Notre Dame
football player turned lawyer, continued to represent the NFLPA in the early efforts. Unable to win their attention by organizing, the association threatened to bring an antitrust
lawsuit against the league. That threat became much more credible when the United States Supreme Court ruled in Radovich v. National Football League
, , that the NFL did not enjoy the same antitrust immunity that Major League Baseball
did. Jarett Bell of USA Today notes, the Radovich v. National Football League
ruling "set the foundation for a series of court battles that have continued to present times." Rather than face another lawsuit from the newly formed NFLPA, the owners agreed to a league minimum salary of $5,000, $50 for each exhibition game played, and medical and hospital coverage. Although most of the NFLPA's requests were met, the owners did not enter into a collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA or formally recognize it as their exclusive bargaining representative, and instead agreed to change the standard player contract and alter governing documents to reflect the changes..
From its inception, the members of the NFLPA were divided over whether it should act as a professional association or a union. Against the wishes of NFLPA president Pete Retzlaff
and later Bernie Parrish
, Miller refused to engage in collective bargaining, and instead ran the union as a "'grievance committee'". The players continued to use the threat of antitrust litigation over the next few years as a lever to win better benefits, including a pension plan, a health insurance plan, and payment for exhibition games.
In January 1968, Parrish proposed forming a players' union with the assistance of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters
(led by St. Louis Teamster leader Harold Gibbons
and Hoffa
top aide Charles "Chuckie" O'Brien) pushed the NFLPA into joining the trucking union. In early November 1967, Parrish, backed by former Cleveland Browns player Jim Brown
, began distributing union cards to form a Teamsters affiliate known as the American Federation of Pro Athletes. The NFLPA rejected the overture at its meeting in Hollywood, Florida
the first week of January 1968 and declared itself an unaffiliated union. Although Parrish's proposal was defeated, Miller left the union as counsel. It is clear that he left the union, but some sources say he quit, while others say he was forced out because he was not hawkish enough. He was later replaced by two labor lawyers from Chicago: Dan Schulman
and Bernie Baum
.
In the 1960's the NFL faced competition from the new American Football League
. The new league provided potential leverage for the NFL players to improve their contracts. In partial response to this threat, the NFL changed the owner-controlled pension plan to add a clause saying that a player would lose his pension if he went to another league.
On January 14, 1964, the American Football League
formed the AFL Players Association, and elected Tom Addison
of the Boston Patriots
president. Rather than working with the AFLPA, the NFLPA chose to retain its independence and attempted to block the merger between the two leagues in 1966. Continuing to believe that the existence of a rival league gave NFL players more bargaining power.
, and the owners countered by declaring a lockout
. By July 14, 1968, the owners relented and the brief work stoppage came to an end. Although a collective bargaining agreement resulted, the concessions the players received were small as they were forced to accept the owners' terms, leaving many members frustrated. The owners compromised by agreeing to contribute about $1.5 million to the pension fund but maintained minimum salaries of $9,000 for rookies, $10,000 for veterans and $50 per exhibition game, and no neutral arbitration.
As the merger of the AFL and NFL became official in 1970, the unions agreed to meet for the first time in January 1970. Jealousy between both associations and fear on the part of the AFL players strained the negotiation process. The NFL players wanted Ed Meador to become president of the newly combined association while the AFL players wanted Jack Kemp
. Both sides compromised and agreed to recognize John Mackey
of the Baltimore Colts as president on the condition that former AFL player Alan Miller would become general counsel for the organization. The NFL owners continued, however, to treat the players lightly in negotiations, prompting the NFLPA to formally and successfully petition the National Labor Relations Board
for union certification. The players went on strike in July 1970 after the owners locked them out for a brief period. The strike lasted for only two days ending with a new four year agreement which was reached after the owners threatened to cancel the season. As a result of the new CBA, the union won the right for players to bargain through their own agents with the clubs, and minimum salaries increased to $12,500 for rookies and $13,000 for veterans. Also, players' pensions were improved and dental care was added to the players' insurance plan. Players also gained the right to
select representation on the Retirement Board and the right to impartial arbitration
for injury grievances.
Following the 1970 agreement, many union representatives were let go by their teams. Unfazed, the players were determined to create a stronger union. Attorney Ed Garvey
was hired by the NFLPA in 1971 to act as their first executive director, and the NFLPA became officially certified as a union by the National Labor Relations Board
in 1971. Headquarters were established in Washington D.C. and a campaign was launched to help inform and educate the players.
, allowed Rozelle to award compensation to a team losing a free agent. This rule severely limited player movement, as few teams were willing to risk signing a high-profile free agent only to risk having their rosters gutted. For instance, a team that signed a blue-chip free agent could be forced to give up its next two first-round draft picks, or worse. Even before the 1974 strike, the NFLPA challenged the Rozelle Rule as a violation of federal antitrust laws in a lawsuit filed by President John Mackey
and allied union leaders in 1972. The lawsuit was still pending in 1974 when the players went on strike. The strike lasted until August 10, 1974 when the players returned to training camp without a new CBA, instead choosing to pursue free agency in court through the Mackey case.
While the litigation (Mackey v. NFL, 543 F.2d 606
(8th Cir. 1976), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 801
) proved successful, the union found that making progress in bargaining was harder to achieve. Although it changed the Rozelle
Rule in bargaining in 1977 and obtained improved benefits, the change did not achieve true free agency. The NFL and NFLPA agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement in March 1977 that ran until 1982.
, this demand "dominated the negotiations."
The 1982 strike ended with a player revolt against its own union, as some members, including Los Angeles Rams players, suggested that Ed Garvey step down as Executive Director. As a result of the strike, the season schedule
was reduced from 16 games to nine and the playoffs expanded to 16 teams (eight from each conference) for a "Super Bowl tournament." A new five-year agreement was also put in place, giving severance packages to players upon retirement, an increase in salaries and post-season pay, and bonuses based on the number of years of experience in the league. Still, NFL salaries remained less than other major league sports.
on October 18. One of the few stars who did play, future Hall of Famer John Riggins
, explained "I guess I'll do just about anything for money." Despite a local TV blackout
and ticket prices starting at six dollars, neither game drew well; only 8,760 fans attended in Washington, D.C., and just 5,331 attended in Los Angeles.
became the executive director of the NFLPA. During his time as executive director, he oversaw the 1987 strike, several antitrust lawsuits, and the collective bargaining agreement of 1993.
. For the next three weeks, the NFL staged games with hastily assembled replacement teams. They were made up of several players cut during training camp, as well as a few veterans who crossed the picket lines. Among the most prominent players to immediately cross the line were New York Jets
defensive end Mark Gastineau
and Dallas Cowboys
defensive tackle Randy White
. San Francisco 49ers
quarterback Joe Montana
and Seattle Seahawks
wide receiver Steve Largent
later joined the replacement players as other strikebreakers.
Faced with a failure by the NFL to bargain in good faith, the willingness of the networks to broadcast the replacement games, and hostile public sentiment, the union voted to go back to work on October 15, 1987 without a collective bargaining agreement in place. They were forced to wait another week before they could resume play since they had failed to return by the owners' deadline, a deadline later ruled to be in violation of federal labor laws and backpay for the strike. The union filed a new antitrust suit, and on December 30, the NFLPA asked federal judge David Doty to rule that the League’s exemption from the federal antitrust laws had ended and that players were free to challenge free agency restrictions and seek treble damages under those laws.
On November 1, 1989, the Court of Appeals
ultimately rejected the suit on the grounds that the labor exemption from antitrust liability protected the employers, even though the union was no longer party to a collective bargaining agreement that would have permitted the practices that the union was challenging. In response, the union formally disclaimed any interest in representing NFL players in collective bargaining and reformed itself as a professional organization in November of 1989. Having done that, individual players, led by Freeman McNeil
of the New York Jets, brought a new antitrust action, financed by the NFLPA, against the NFL challenging its free agency restrictions (so-called "Plan B") as an unlawful restraint of trade under the anti-trust laws.
filed by Reggie White
, then with the Philadelphia Eagles
, on behalf of all NFL players caused the parties to settle the anti-trust cases and to agree on a formula that permitted free agency. In return, the owners demanded and received a salary cap
, albeit one tied to a formula based on players' share of total league revenues. The agreement also established a salary floor - minimum payrolls all teams were obliged to pay. The settlement was presented to and approved by the judge who had heard the McNeil antitrust case in 1993. Once the agreement was approved, the NFLPA reconstituted itself as a labor union and entered into a new collective bargaining agreement with the league. The NFLPA and the league extended the 1993 agreement five times. The final extension came in March 2006 when it was extended through the 2010 season after the NFL owners voted 30-2 to accept the NFLPA's final proposal.
stepped in as interim executive director, serving from August 2008 until March 2009. The NFLPA Board of Representatives elected DeMaurice Smith
for a three year term as the executive director on March 16, 2009. During Smith's time as executive director, the issue that dominated discussion was the 2011 lockout
.
was played without a new agreement. Some of the major points of contention included openness of owners' financial books, the rookie pay scale, a proposed 18 percent reduction in the players' share of revenues, forfeiture on bonus payments for players that fail to perform, players' health and retirement benefits, details of free agency, the cost and benefit of new stadiums, players' salaries, extending the regular season to 18 games, and the revenue-sharing structure. By March 2011, the NFLPA and the NFL had not yet come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, thus failing to resolve the labor dispute. Accordingly, the NFLPA filed papers to decertify as a union on March 11, 2011 and file an antitrust suite to enjoin the lockout. Less than two hours after the players' union decertified, quarterbacks Tom Brady
, Peyton Manning
, and Drew Brees
filed a class-action lawsuit, financed by the NFLPA, to prevent the lockout from impeding on the season. By the end of the day, the players had officially been locked out. After the settlement of Brady et. al v. NFL anti-trust suit on July 25, 2011, a majority of players signed union authorization cards approving the NFL Players Association to act as their exclusive collective bargaining representative. The NFL officially recognized the NFLPA’s status as the players’ collective bargaining representative on July 30, 2011. The NFL and NFLPA proceeded to negotiate terms for a new collective bargaining agreement, and the agreement became effective after ratification by the players August 4, 2011. The new collective bargaining agreement runs through 2021.
in San Antonio, Texas
.
, a former NFL center, and the executive director is DeMaurice Smith
. As of September 2011, the executive committee consisted of the following current and retired NFL players: Charlie Batch
, Drew Brees
, Brian Dawkins
, Domonique Foxworth
, Scott Fujita
, Sean Morey, Tony Richardson, Jeff Saturday
, Mike Vrabel
, and Brian Waters
. Each NFL team also has a player representative, along with two to three alternate representatives.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
players in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). It has been at times a professional association, as well as a labor union. The goal of the current organization is to represent all players in matters concerning wages, hours, and working conditions, to protect players' rights as professional athletes, to ensure the terms of a collective bargaining agreement are met, to negotiate and monitor retirement and insurance benefits, to provide assistance to charitable and community organizations, and to enhance and defend the image of players and their profession on and off the field. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the NFLPA is led by President Kevin Mawae
Kevin Mawae
Kevin James Mawae is a former American National Football League center. During a 16-year football career, he played for the Seattle Seahawks , New York Jets , and the Tennessee Titans . Mawae was a four-year starter for LSU and was selected second-team All-SEC by Associated Press and SEC coaches...
and Executive Director DeMaurice Smith
DeMaurice Smith
DeMaurice "D" Smith is the Executive Director of the National Football League Players' Association . Smith was elected unanimously by a board of active player representatives on March 16, 2009.- Career :...
.
Although it was founded in 1956, the NFLPA did not receive official recognition by the NFL until 1968 when a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was reached. After an adverse court decision in 1989, the union formally renounced its collective bargaining rights, converting into a professional association in order to pursue antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
litigation designed to win free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
for its members. From 1989 to 1993, a series of lawsuits were filed by the NFLPA against the NFL, most notably one involving Freeman McNeil
Freeman McNeil
Freeman McNeil is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Jets in the 1st round of the 1981 NFL Draft....
of the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the other involving Reggie White
Reggie White
Reginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player. He played 15 seasons as a defensive end in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history...
of the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. These lawsuits caused negotiations for an antitrust settlement, and that settlement paved the way for the NFLPA to reconstitute as a union and to negotiate a new CBA in the spring of 1993. Following the end of the 2008 season, the NFL team owners opted out of the extended 1993 CBA, which caused the agreement to expire at the end of an uncapped
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
2010 season. The NFLPA again renounced its collective bargaining rights on March 11, 2011, the date the agreement expired, to allow the players to pursue antitrust litigation through a class action through a class action filed by Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
and other notable players. The NFL and the players came to terms on a new antitrust settlement on July 25, 2011, and the players thereafter signed union authorization cars to have the NFLPA reconstitute as a union. A new CBA was then negotiated and that agreement was ratified on August 4, 2011.
Formation
The players originally began to unionize because they had to play exhibition games without receiving pay. In 1943, Roy ZimmermanRoy Zimmerman
Roy Zimmerman is an American satirical singer-songwriter and guitarist whose self-proclaimed leftist-slanted commentary is primarily focused on social issues and politics....
's refusal to play an exhibition game without compensation resulted in his trade from the Redskins to Philadelphia. With the pending arrival of the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
(AAFC) in 1946, the NFL created a rule to ban a player for five years from NFL associated employment if he had left the NFL to join the AAFC. This didn't stop all players from switching leagues. For example, Bill Radovich
Bill Radovich
William Alex Radovich is a former American football guard.-Pro career:...
played for the Detroit Lions in 1945 and then left the NFL and played for the Los Angeles Dons in the AAFC. Subsequently, Radovich was blacklisted by the NFL and was prevented from gaining employment with a team from the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast Professional Football League
The Pacific Coast Professional Football League , also known as the Pacific Coast Football League and Pacific Coast League was a professional American football league based in California, USA, and competed from 1940 through 1948 in sports...
. Unable to land a job in the NFL or the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast Professional Football League
The Pacific Coast Professional Football League , also known as the Pacific Coast Football League and Pacific Coast League was a professional American football league based in California, USA, and competed from 1940 through 1948 in sports...
, Radovich filed suit against the NFL seeking damages.The actual formation of the NFLPA came when two players from the Browns, Abe Gibron
Abe Gibron
Abraham Gibron was an American football coach and player. He is best remembered for his tenure as head coach of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played in the NFL as an offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Bears...
and Dante Lavelli
Dante Lavelli
Dante Bert Joseph "Gluefingers" Lavelli was an American football end who played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference and National Football League from 1946 to 1956...
, approached a lawyer, Creighton Miller
Creighton Miller
Creighton Miller was an American football player. As an attorney, he was critical in helping to organize the National Football League Players Association....
, to form an association to help the players. They were eventually supported by both the Browns' and the Packers' players, and they announced the formation of the NFLPA in 1956. The new association initially requested that the clubs provide players with pay for exhibition games, a minimum league-wide salary and per diem
Per diem
Per diem refers to a specific amount of money that an organization allows an individual to spend per day, to cover living and traveling expenses in connection with work...
pay, uniforms and equipment paid for and maintained at the clubs' expense, and continued payment of their salaries when they were injured and unable to play. Don Shula
Don Shula
Donald Francis "Don" Shula is a former American football cornerback and coach.He is best known as coach of the Miami Dolphins, the team he led to two Super Bowl victories, and to the National Football League's only perfect season. Shula was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated....
of the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
, John Gordy
John Gordy
John Gordy was an American Football offensive guard who played for the Detroit Lions in an eleven year career that lasted from 1957 to 1967 in the National Football League....
of the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Frank Gifford
Frank Gifford
Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford is a Hall of Fame former American football player and American sportscaster.-Early life:Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller....
and Sam Huff
Sam Huff
Robert Lee "Sam" Huff is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982....
of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Norm Van Brocklin
Norm Van Brocklin
Norman Mack "Norm" Van Brocklin , nicknamed "The Dutchman", was an American football player and coach. He was also a first rate punter in college and in the NFL...
of the Los Angeles Rams led this effort.
Precertification
Creighton MillerCreighton Miller
Creighton Miller was an American football player. As an attorney, he was critical in helping to organize the National Football League Players Association....
, who was a former Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
football player turned lawyer, continued to represent the NFLPA in the early efforts. Unable to win their attention by organizing, the association threatened to bring an antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
lawsuit against the league. That threat became much more credible when the United States Supreme Court ruled in Radovich v. National Football League
Radovich v. National Football League
Radovich v. National Football League , , is a 1957 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling that professional football, unlike professional baseball, was subject to antitrust laws...
, , that the NFL did not enjoy the same antitrust immunity that Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
did. Jarett Bell of USA Today notes, the Radovich v. National Football League
Radovich v. National Football League
Radovich v. National Football League , , is a 1957 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling that professional football, unlike professional baseball, was subject to antitrust laws...
ruling "set the foundation for a series of court battles that have continued to present times." Rather than face another lawsuit from the newly formed NFLPA, the owners agreed to a league minimum salary of $5,000, $50 for each exhibition game played, and medical and hospital coverage. Although most of the NFLPA's requests were met, the owners did not enter into a collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA or formally recognize it as their exclusive bargaining representative, and instead agreed to change the standard player contract and alter governing documents to reflect the changes..
From its inception, the members of the NFLPA were divided over whether it should act as a professional association or a union. Against the wishes of NFLPA president Pete Retzlaff
Pete Retzlaff
Palmer Edward "Pete" Retzlaff, nicknamed "Pistol Pete" and "The Baron", is a former professional American football player and general manager....
and later Bernie Parrish
Bernie Parrish
Bernard Paul "Bernie" Parrish is a former American college and professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League and American Football League for eight seasons during the 1950s and 1960s...
, Miller refused to engage in collective bargaining, and instead ran the union as a "'grievance committee'". The players continued to use the threat of antitrust litigation over the next few years as a lever to win better benefits, including a pension plan, a health insurance plan, and payment for exhibition games.
In January 1968, Parrish proposed forming a players' union with the assistance of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
(led by St. Louis Teamster leader Harold Gibbons
Harold J. Gibbons
Harold Joseph Patrick Gibbons was an American trade unionist and labor leader.Born the youngest of 23 children in Archibald Patch, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, he nonetheless matriculated at the University of Chicago. He became a St. Louis union leader of Warehousemen, when St...
and Hoffa
Jimmy Hoffa
James Riddle "Jimmy" Hoffa was an American labor union leader....
top aide Charles "Chuckie" O'Brien) pushed the NFLPA into joining the trucking union. In early November 1967, Parrish, backed by former Cleveland Browns player Jim Brown
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
, began distributing union cards to form a Teamsters affiliate known as the American Federation of Pro Athletes. The NFLPA rejected the overture at its meeting in Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
the first week of January 1968 and declared itself an unaffiliated union. Although Parrish's proposal was defeated, Miller left the union as counsel. It is clear that he left the union, but some sources say he quit, while others say he was forced out because he was not hawkish enough. He was later replaced by two labor lawyers from Chicago: Dan Schulman
Dan Schulman
Not to be confused with Dan Shulman the ESPN broadcasterDan Schulman joined American Express as Group President, Enterprise Growth, in 2010...
and Bernie Baum
Bernie Baum
Bernie Baum was a songwriter who worked extensively with Elvis Presley. He grew up in New York City and later worked with Harvey Zimmerman and Florence Kaye. The majority of their songs were used in Presley's musicals. Their work was also credited in the American version of Kimba the White Lion...
.
In the 1960's the NFL faced competition from the new American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
. The new league provided potential leverage for the NFL players to improve their contracts. In partial response to this threat, the NFL changed the owner-controlled pension plan to add a clause saying that a player would lose his pension if he went to another league.
On January 14, 1964, the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
formed the AFL Players Association, and elected Tom Addison
Tom Addison
Tom Addison was a professional American football linebacker and sports labor leader, and is a member of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.- Playing career :...
of the Boston Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
president. Rather than working with the AFLPA, the NFLPA chose to retain its independence and attempted to block the merger between the two leagues in 1966. Continuing to believe that the existence of a rival league gave NFL players more bargaining power.
Recognition and certification (1968–1983)
Six months after it declared itself an unaffiliated union, the NFLPA won official recognition from the owners through its first written collective bargaining agreement. On July 3, 1968, after official talks with the owners stalled, the NFLPA voted to strikeStrike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
, and the owners countered by declaring a lockout
Lockout (industry)
A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. This is different from a strike, in which employees refuse to work.- Causes :...
. By July 14, 1968, the owners relented and the brief work stoppage came to an end. Although a collective bargaining agreement resulted, the concessions the players received were small as they were forced to accept the owners' terms, leaving many members frustrated. The owners compromised by agreeing to contribute about $1.5 million to the pension fund but maintained minimum salaries of $9,000 for rookies, $10,000 for veterans and $50 per exhibition game, and no neutral arbitration.
As the merger of the AFL and NFL became official in 1970, the unions agreed to meet for the first time in January 1970. Jealousy between both associations and fear on the part of the AFL players strained the negotiation process. The NFL players wanted Ed Meador to become president of the newly combined association while the AFL players wanted Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
. Both sides compromised and agreed to recognize John Mackey
John Mackey (American football)
John Mackey was an American Football tight end who grew up in Roosevelt, Long Island and played for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers . He played college football at Syracuse University...
of the Baltimore Colts as president on the condition that former AFL player Alan Miller would become general counsel for the organization. The NFL owners continued, however, to treat the players lightly in negotiations, prompting the NFLPA to formally and successfully petition the National Labor Relations Board
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. Unfair labor practices may involve union-related situations or instances of...
for union certification. The players went on strike in July 1970 after the owners locked them out for a brief period. The strike lasted for only two days ending with a new four year agreement which was reached after the owners threatened to cancel the season. As a result of the new CBA, the union won the right for players to bargain through their own agents with the clubs, and minimum salaries increased to $12,500 for rookies and $13,000 for veterans. Also, players' pensions were improved and dental care was added to the players' insurance plan. Players also gained the right to
select representation on the Retirement Board and the right to impartial arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
for injury grievances.
Following the 1970 agreement, many union representatives were let go by their teams. Unfazed, the players were determined to create a stronger union. Attorney Ed Garvey
Ed Garvey
- Background :Edward Garvey graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and spent two years in the U.S. Army; he then returned to the University of Wisconsin Law School and earned a law degree.- Law and union work :...
was hired by the NFLPA in 1971 to act as their first executive director, and the NFLPA became officially certified as a union by the National Labor Relations Board
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. Unfair labor practices may involve union-related situations or instances of...
in 1971. Headquarters were established in Washington D.C. and a campaign was launched to help inform and educate the players.
1974 strike
The 1970 CBA ran until 1974. In July 1974, players went on strike, demanding the elimination of the option clause and the NFL revenue clause, popularly known as the "Rozelle Rule." The rule, named after commissioner Pete RozellePete Rozelle
Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozelle was the commissioner of the National Football League from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office. Rozelle is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world....
, allowed Rozelle to award compensation to a team losing a free agent. This rule severely limited player movement, as few teams were willing to risk signing a high-profile free agent only to risk having their rosters gutted. For instance, a team that signed a blue-chip free agent could be forced to give up its next two first-round draft picks, or worse. Even before the 1974 strike, the NFLPA challenged the Rozelle Rule as a violation of federal antitrust laws in a lawsuit filed by President John Mackey
John Mackey
John Mackey may refer to:*John Mackey , former American football tight end*John Mackey , founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market...
and allied union leaders in 1972. The lawsuit was still pending in 1974 when the players went on strike. The strike lasted until August 10, 1974 when the players returned to training camp without a new CBA, instead choosing to pursue free agency in court through the Mackey case.
While the litigation (Mackey v. NFL, 543 F.2d 606
Case citation
Case citation is the system used in many countries to identify the decisions in past court cases, either in special series of books called reporters or law reports, or in a 'neutral' form which will identify a decision wherever it was reported...
(8th Cir. 1976), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 801
Case citation
Case citation is the system used in many countries to identify the decisions in past court cases, either in special series of books called reporters or law reports, or in a 'neutral' form which will identify a decision wherever it was reported...
) proved successful, the union found that making progress in bargaining was harder to achieve. Although it changed the Rozelle
Pete Rozelle
Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozelle was the commissioner of the National Football League from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office. Rozelle is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world....
Rule in bargaining in 1977 and obtained improved benefits, the change did not achieve true free agency. The NFL and NFLPA agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement in March 1977 that ran until 1982.
1982 strike
The 1982 NFL strike began on September 21, 1982, and lasted 57 days until November 16, 1982. During this time, no NFL games were played. The essential cause of the strike was the union demanded that a wage scale based on percentage of gross revenues be implemented. The NFLPA wanted the percentage to be 55 percent, and according to the Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, this demand "dominated the negotiations."
The 1982 strike ended with a player revolt against its own union, as some members, including Los Angeles Rams players, suggested that Ed Garvey step down as Executive Director. As a result of the strike, the season schedule
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
was reduced from 16 games to nine and the playoffs expanded to 16 teams (eight from each conference) for a "Super Bowl tournament." A new five-year agreement was also put in place, giving severance packages to players upon retirement, an increase in salaries and post-season pay, and bonuses based on the number of years of experience in the league. Still, NFL salaries remained less than other major league sports.
NFLPA All-Star Games
During this time, the NFLPA promoted two "AFC-NFC 'all-star' games." One was held at RFK Stadium on October 17, 1982, and the second was held at the Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
on October 18. One of the few stars who did play, future Hall of Famer John Riggins
John Riggins
Robert John Riggins, nicknamed "The Diesel", is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992....
, explained "I guess I'll do just about anything for money." Despite a local TV blackout
Blackout (broadcasting)
Blackout usually relates to the broadcasting of sports events, television programming, that is prohibited in a certain media market.The purpose is theoretically to generate more revenue by obliging certain actions from fans, either by making them buy tickets or watch other games on TV...
and ticket prices starting at six dollars, neither game drew well; only 8,760 fans attended in Washington, D.C., and just 5,331 attended in Los Angeles.
Gene Upshaw era (1983–2008)
In 1983, former Oakland Raider Gene UpshawGene Upshaw
Eugene Thurman Upshaw, Jr. was an American football player for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League and later the NFL, later the executive director of the National Football League Players' Association...
became the executive director of the NFLPA. During his time as executive director, he oversaw the 1987 strike, several antitrust lawsuits, and the collective bargaining agreement of 1993.
1987 strike and decertification
The NFLPA struck for a month in 1987. On this occasion, however, they only succeeded in canceling one week of the season1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
. For the next three weeks, the NFL staged games with hastily assembled replacement teams. They were made up of several players cut during training camp, as well as a few veterans who crossed the picket lines. Among the most prominent players to immediately cross the line were New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive end Mark Gastineau
Mark Gastineau
Marcus Dell Gastineau is a former American football player who was a leading defensive end for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. A five-time Pro Bowler, his 100½ quarterback sacks in only his first 100 starts in the NFL made him one of the quickest and most feared pass rushers of his generation...
and Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
defensive tackle Randy White
Randy White (American football)
Randall Lee "Randy" White is a former American football defensive lineman and linebacker. He attended the University of Maryland from 1971 to 1974, and played professionally for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975 to 1988. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
. San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
quarterback Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
wide receiver Steve Largent
Steve Largent
Steven Michael "Steve" Largent is a retired American football player, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and a former U.S. Congressman, having served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma from 1994 until 2002...
later joined the replacement players as other strikebreakers.
Faced with a failure by the NFL to bargain in good faith, the willingness of the networks to broadcast the replacement games, and hostile public sentiment, the union voted to go back to work on October 15, 1987 without a collective bargaining agreement in place. They were forced to wait another week before they could resume play since they had failed to return by the owners' deadline, a deadline later ruled to be in violation of federal labor laws and backpay for the strike. The union filed a new antitrust suit, and on December 30, the NFLPA asked federal judge David Doty to rule that the League’s exemption from the federal antitrust laws had ended and that players were free to challenge free agency restrictions and seek treble damages under those laws.
On November 1, 1989, the Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals
A court of appeals is an appellate court generally.Court of Appeals may refer to:*Military Court of Appeals *Corte d'Assise d'Appello *Philippine Court of Appeals*High Court of Appeals of Turkey*United States courts of appeals...
ultimately rejected the suit on the grounds that the labor exemption from antitrust liability protected the employers, even though the union was no longer party to a collective bargaining agreement that would have permitted the practices that the union was challenging. In response, the union formally disclaimed any interest in representing NFL players in collective bargaining and reformed itself as a professional organization in November of 1989. Having done that, individual players, led by Freeman McNeil
Freeman McNeil
Freeman McNeil is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Jets in the 1st round of the 1981 NFL Draft....
of the New York Jets, brought a new antitrust action, financed by the NFLPA, against the NFL challenging its free agency restrictions (so-called "Plan B") as an unlawful restraint of trade under the anti-trust laws.
1993 collective bargaining
The players ultimately prevailed after a jury trial on their claims. That verdict, the pendency of other antitrust cases and the threat of a class actionClass action
In law, a class action, a class suit, or a representative action is a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued...
filed by Reggie White
Reggie White
Reginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player. He played 15 seasons as a defensive end in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history...
, then with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, on behalf of all NFL players caused the parties to settle the anti-trust cases and to agree on a formula that permitted free agency. In return, the owners demanded and received a salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
, albeit one tied to a formula based on players' share of total league revenues. The agreement also established a salary floor - minimum payrolls all teams were obliged to pay. The settlement was presented to and approved by the judge who had heard the McNeil antitrust case in 1993. Once the agreement was approved, the NFLPA reconstituted itself as a labor union and entered into a new collective bargaining agreement with the league. The NFLPA and the league extended the 1993 agreement five times. The final extension came in March 2006 when it was extended through the 2010 season after the NFL owners voted 30-2 to accept the NFLPA's final proposal.
DeMaurice Smith era (2009–present)
Following the death of Gene Upshaw in 2008, Richard BerthelsenRichard Berthelsen
Richard A. Berthelsen is a former interim executive director of the NFL Players Association. Berthelsen assumed the role after the death of Gene Upshaw on August 21, 2008, and left the office on March 16, 2009, when DeMaurice Smith was named as Upshaw's successor...
stepped in as interim executive director, serving from August 2008 until March 2009. The NFLPA Board of Representatives elected DeMaurice Smith
DeMaurice Smith
DeMaurice "D" Smith is the Executive Director of the National Football League Players' Association . Smith was elected unanimously by a board of active player representatives on March 16, 2009.- Career :...
for a three year term as the executive director on March 16, 2009. During Smith's time as executive director, the issue that dominated discussion was the 2011 lockout
2011 NFL lockout
The 2011 National Football League lockout was a lockout that lasted from March 11 to July 25. It occurred primarily during the offseason for 18 weeks and 4 days...
.
2011 lockout
In May 2008 the owners decided to opt out of the 1993 arrangement and play the 2010 season without an agreement in place. Without a new agreement, the 2010 NFL season2010 NFL season
The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,...
was played without a new agreement. Some of the major points of contention included openness of owners' financial books, the rookie pay scale, a proposed 18 percent reduction in the players' share of revenues, forfeiture on bonus payments for players that fail to perform, players' health and retirement benefits, details of free agency, the cost and benefit of new stadiums, players' salaries, extending the regular season to 18 games, and the revenue-sharing structure. By March 2011, the NFLPA and the NFL had not yet come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, thus failing to resolve the labor dispute. Accordingly, the NFLPA filed papers to decertify as a union on March 11, 2011 and file an antitrust suite to enjoin the lockout. Less than two hours after the players' union decertified, quarterbacks Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
, Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
, and Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
filed a class-action lawsuit, financed by the NFLPA, to prevent the lockout from impeding on the season. By the end of the day, the players had officially been locked out. After the settlement of Brady et. al v. NFL anti-trust suit on July 25, 2011, a majority of players signed union authorization cards approving the NFL Players Association to act as their exclusive collective bargaining representative. The NFL officially recognized the NFLPA’s status as the players’ collective bargaining representative on July 30, 2011. The NFL and NFLPA proceeded to negotiate terms for a new collective bargaining agreement, and the agreement became effective after ratification by the players August 4, 2011. The new collective bargaining agreement runs through 2021.
NFLPA Game
In 2010, the first NFLPA Game was played at the AlamodomeAlamodome
The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
.
Leadership
The current president of the NFLPA is Kevin MawaeKevin Mawae
Kevin James Mawae is a former American National Football League center. During a 16-year football career, he played for the Seattle Seahawks , New York Jets , and the Tennessee Titans . Mawae was a four-year starter for LSU and was selected second-team All-SEC by Associated Press and SEC coaches...
, a former NFL center, and the executive director is DeMaurice Smith
DeMaurice Smith
DeMaurice "D" Smith is the Executive Director of the National Football League Players' Association . Smith was elected unanimously by a board of active player representatives on March 16, 2009.- Career :...
. As of September 2011, the executive committee consisted of the following current and retired NFL players: Charlie Batch
Charlie Batch
Charles "Charlie" Batch is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
, Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
, Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins
Brian Patrick Dawkins is an American football safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
, Domonique Foxworth
Domonique Foxworth
Domonique Foxworth is an American football cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, Scott Fujita
Scott Fujita
Scott Anthony Fujita is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
, Sean Morey, Tony Richardson, Jeff Saturday
Jeff Saturday
Jeffrey Bryant Saturday is an American football center for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He played college football at North Carolina. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Football League Players' Association.-Early years:Saturday attended...
, Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel
Michael George "Mike" Vrabel is an assistant coach at Ohio State. He is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League. Vrabel spent 14 seasons in the NFL, having played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs...
, and Brian Waters
Brian Waters
Brian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas...
. Each NFL team also has a player representative, along with two to three alternate representatives.
| Leader | Year(s) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Directors | |||||||||
| John Gordy John Gordy John Gordy was an American Football offensive guard who played for the Detroit Lions in an eleven year career that lasted from 1957 to 1967 in the National Football League.... |
January 16, 1969–November 1, 1969 | ||||||||
| None | November 1, 1969–1971 | ||||||||
| Ed Garvey Ed Garvey - Background :Edward Garvey graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and spent two years in the U.S. Army; he then returned to the University of Wisconsin Law School and earned a law degree.- Law and union work :... |
1971–June 13, 1983 | ||||||||
| Gene Upshaw Gene Upshaw Eugene Thurman Upshaw, Jr. was an American football player for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League and later the NFL, later the executive director of the National Football League Players' Association... |
June 13, 1983–August 21, 2008 | ||||||||
| Richard Berthelsen Richard Berthelsen Richard A. Berthelsen is a former interim executive director of the NFL Players Association. Berthelsen assumed the role after the death of Gene Upshaw on August 21, 2008, and left the office on March 16, 2009, when DeMaurice Smith was named as Upshaw's successor... |
August 21, 2008–March 16, 2009 as Interim Executive Director | ||||||||
| DeMaurice Smith DeMaurice Smith DeMaurice "D" Smith is the Executive Director of the National Football League Players' Association . Smith was elected unanimously by a board of active player representatives on March 16, 2009.- Career :... |
March 16, 2009–present | ||||||||
| Presidents | |||||||||
| NFLPA (pre-merger) | |||||||||
| Bill Howton | January 26, 1958–January 4, 1962 | ||||||||
| Pete Retzlaff Pete Retzlaff Palmer Edward "Pete" Retzlaff, nicknamed "Pistol Pete" and "The Baron", is a former professional American football player and general manager.... |
January 4, 1962–January 5, 1964 | ||||||||
| Ordell Braase Ordell Braase Ordell Wayne Braase is a retired American football defensive end in the National Football League. He played with the Baltimore Colts throughout his career... |
January 5, 1964–January 8, 1967 | ||||||||
| Mike Pyle Mike Pyle Michael Johnson Pyle is a former American football center who played nine seasons between 1961 and 1969 for the Chicago Bears.-Background:... |
January 8, 1967–January 11, 1968 | ||||||||
| John Gordy John Gordy John Gordy was an American Football offensive guard who played for the Detroit Lions in an eleven year career that lasted from 1957 to 1967 in the National Football League.... |
January 11, 1968–January 16, 1969 | ||||||||
| John Mackey John Mackey (American football) John Mackey was an American Football tight end who grew up in Roosevelt, Long Island and played for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers . He played college football at Syracuse University... |
January 16, 1969–1970 | ||||||||
| AFLPA | |||||||||
| Tom Addison Tom Addison Tom Addison was a professional American football linebacker and sports labor leader, and is a member of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.- Playing career :... |
January 14, 1964–1965 | ||||||||
| Jack Kemp Jack Kemp Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st... |
1965–1970 | ||||||||
| NFLPA (post-merger) | |||||||||
| John Mackey John Mackey (American football) John Mackey was an American Football tight end who grew up in Roosevelt, Long Island and played for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers . He played college football at Syracuse University... |
1970–1973 | ||||||||
| Bill Curry Bill Curry William Alexander "Bill" Curry is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head coach at Georgia State University, which began competing in college football in 2010... |
1973–May 31, 1975 | ||||||||
| Kermit Alexander Kermit Alexander Kermit Joseph Alexander is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League.-Professional career:... |
May 31, 1975–March 8, 1976 | ||||||||
| Dick Anderson Dick Anderson Richard Paul Anderson is a former American football safety for the AFL's and NFL's Miami Dolphins, where he played for his entire ten year career from 1968 to 1977 missing one of those seasons with a knee injury.... |
March 8, 1976–January 26, 1978 | ||||||||
| Len Hauss Len Hauss Leonard Moore Hauss is a former American football center in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1964 to 1977.-Early life:... |
January 26, 1978–1980 | ||||||||
| Gene Upshaw Gene Upshaw Eugene Thurman Upshaw, Jr. was an American football player for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League and later the NFL, later the executive director of the National Football League Players' Association... |
1980–June 13, 1983 | ||||||||
| Jeff Van Note Jeff Van Note Jeffrey Aloysius Van Note , is a former American football player who played his entire 18-year NFL career as a center for the Atlanta Falcons from 1969 to 1986.-NFL career:... |
June 13, 1983–February 1984 | ||||||||
| Tom Condon Tom Condon Thomas Joseph Condon is an American football agent. He was named the most powerful agent in American football by Sporting News 2006, and heads the Football Division of Creative Artists Agency with fellow agent Ben Dogra.... |
February, 1984–April 24, 1986 | ||||||||
| Marvin Powell Marvin Powell Marvin Powell is a former Offensive Tackle for the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.-College career:Powell was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994... |
April 24, 1986–March 3, 1988 | ||||||||
| George Martin George Martin (American football) George Dwight Martin is a former American football defensive end who played his entire career in the National Football League for the New York Giants... |
March 3, 1988–June 13, 1989 | ||||||||
| Mike Kenn Mike Kenn Michael Lee Kenn is a former American football player who was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1st round of the 1978 NFL Draft. A 6'7", 275-lb. offensive tackle from the University of Michigan, Kenn played his entire 17-year NFL career with the Falcons from 1978 to 1994. He is notable for... |
June 13, 1989–March 16, 1996 | ||||||||
| Trace Armstrong Trace Armstrong Raymond Lester "Trace" Armstrong, III is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League for fifteen seasons from the late 1980s to the early 2000s... |
March 16, 1996–March 29, 2004 | ||||||||
| Troy Vincent Troy Vincent Troy Darnell Vincent is a former Defensive Back for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins with the 7th overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wisconsin.Mr... |
March 29, 2004–March 19, 2008 | ||||||||
| Kevin Mawae Kevin Mawae Kevin James Mawae is a former American National Football League center. During a 16-year football career, he played for the Seattle Seahawks , New York Jets , and the Tennessee Titans . Mawae was a four-year starter for LSU and was selected second-team All-SEC by Associated Press and SEC coaches... |
March 19, 2008–present | ||||||||
Further reading
- 1958 NFL Players Association Meeting Minutes
- The Battle is Joined by Gwilym S. Brown
- Owners Cany be Tackled Too by Gwilym S. Brown
- Conflict and Compromise: The Evolution of American Professional Football’s Labour Relations 1957-1966 by Michael E. Lomax
- The Quest for Freedom: The NFLPA'S Attempt to Abolish the NFL's Reserve System by Michael E. Lomax
- Can NFL Player's Association Survive by Bill Rhoden pp. 76–77