Overview

• Howell informed the executive committee that his leadership had become a distraction and stepped down effective immediately.
• The NFLPA executive committee said it will convene soon to appoint interim leadership and maintain continuous advocacy for its members.
• ESPN revelations that Howell held a paid, part-time consulting role with The Carlyle Group prompted questions about divided loyalties between the union and team owners.
• Additional scrutiny arose when it emerged that an arbitration ruling on alleged NFL collusion was kept under a secrecy pact negotiated by the union.
• Reports that Howell faced a 2011 discrimination and retaliation lawsuit at Booz Allen Hamilton highlighted earlier disclosure failures.