Interim NFLPA executive director David White to players: Rebuilding ‘damaged trust' a top priority

New York Times

11 hours ago

In his first communication with NFL players since his appointment as interim director of the NFL Players Association, David White expressed gratitude for the opportunity to help provide stability to the players union. The former SAG-AFTRA union leader also attempted to convey an understanding of the responsibilities he has inherited, and the heavy lifting ahead as he and NFLPA leaders work to help the union regain its footing.
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The NFLPA board of representatives elected White as the interim executive director late Sunday night, following a three-week process that began after Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned amid a firestorm of controversy over potential conflicts of interest, mismanagement, and the improper use of NFLPA funds.
White, who served as national executive director and lead negotiator of the Screen Actors Guild from 2009 to 2021, was a finalist for the NFLPA job in 2023, but lost out to Howell, who appealed to players because of his business acumen as a former chief financial officer of Booz Allen Hamilton. NFLPA leaders vowed to take their time in selecting the interim director and eventually settled on White, passing over several popular in-house options.
In his letter to players, of which The Athletic obtained a copy, White said, 'I want to thank you for entrusting me with helping to guide and lead your union during this critical time. I'll be visiting you in person throughout the season and look forward to hearing directly from you.'
He went on to express his understanding of the magnitude of the position because of his experience with previous high-profile labor unions and his knowledge of the NFLPA and pro football.
'This union's mission is simple: to protect and empower you. To do that effectively, we must be united with clear priorities, transparent communication and consistent actions that demonstrate our understanding of what you need and want,' White wrote.
He went on to lay out the most immediate priorities that he feels compelled to address, most notably restoring player confidence in the union, addressing time-sensitive challenges and laying the groundwork for a successful transition to a permanent union leader.
White wrote, 'Recent events have damaged trust between many of you and this organization. That trust isn't something we're entitled to — it's something we must earn through consistent action. You deserve a union that operates professionally, communicates clearly and makes decisions that put your interests first. Rebuilding that confidence is my top priority, and it will be measured not by what we say, but by how we perform.'
Interim NFLPA executive director David White sent this letter out to the player body today. He seems to understand the heavy lifting ahead as the player union aims to regain stability. pic.twitter.com/yfTaBtGBsN
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) August 6, 2025
White expressed his intention to meet with the player bodies of each team to gain a better understanding of the top concerns and priorities in their minds. (It's customary that the executive director spends the first part of the preseason and regular season touring the league for face-to-face meetings with the locker rooms of each team.)
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'The challenges facing professional football players today require the same strategic thinking and collective wisdom that built this union's past successes,' he wrote. 'Meeting those challenges effectively is the work we begin now.'
It's unclear what timeline the NFLPA executive committee plans to operate under while searching for a long-term solution at executive director. However, it's believed that they could wait until after the conclusion of the season to hold an election for the permanent position.
In other NFLPA-related news, the union on Wednesday also sent a message to players in an attempt to provide clarity regarding the NFL-issued memo announcing a new measure that will prohibit teams from providing players with ammonia products such as smelling salts. The NFLPA message read, 'The NFL Players Association is aware of the memo issued by the league Tuesday regarding the use of smelling salts and ammonia capsules. We were not notified of this club policy change before the memo was sent out. To clarify, this policy does not prohibit player use of these substances, but rather it restricts clubs from providing or supplying them in any form. The NFL has confirmed this to us. If you have any questions, please reach out to your player director.'
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