Former NFL Players Association (NFLPA) leader Lloyd Howell Jr. came under scrutiny this week after an external investigator, hired by the union, reviewed expense documents revealing Howell requested reimbursement for costly car services and visits to strip clubs, including a $738.82 ride to one such venue. The union-approved expense reports and receipts, obtained by ESPN, showed that Howell was picked up from Fort Lauderdale International Airport on November 2, 2023, and was later dropped off at a high-end apartment in Sunny Isles Beach. The union’s finance team flagged the unusually high transportation costs, and upon further online research, identified the destination as Torty Cabaret, a large strip club claiming to be the world’s biggest with a “full nude no.1 rating.”
Employees escalated the flagged receipts for detailed review, which led the union’s travel head to forward them to the compliance department for legal examination. Further documents revealed that more than a year after the initial incident, Howell and union members visited the Magic City Strip Club in Atlanta during the NFLPA Summit on February 21, incurring charges of $2,426, including multiple cash withdrawals from the club’s ATM. The expense report justified the visit as a “player engagement event to support and grow our union.” Expense reports, submitted by employees and directed by Howell, highlighted the use of two VIP rooms and noted cash withdrawals, which raised alert flags for potential reimbursement violations.
Efforts to reach Howell for comment were unsuccessful, and a union spokesman declined to respond. The law firm WilmerHale, hired by a special players’ committee to investigate Howell’s actions, continues its inquiry. Under federal labor laws, union expenditure and reimbursement are strictly regulated to protect members’ dues, a point emphasized by veteran labor lawyer Bob Strop, who noted that some costs, such as extravagant transportation, could attract the Department of Labor’s attention due to potential violations.
Though the NFLPA has strict reimbursement policies, former union insiders noted there are no explicit restrictions regarding expenses at venues like strip clubs under the “entertainment” category, though such claims are often viewed as problematic from a public relations standpoint. Howell, elected union president in 2024 with a $3.6 million salary, has resided in Miami since 2019, purchasing a luxury apartment with vehicle elevator access. His expense reporting for strip club visits has a history, with a past incident at his former employer Booz Allen Hamilton also involving high-cost visits that led to internal scrutiny.
In his resignation statement late Thursday night, Howell cited distraction from the union’s important work as his reason for stepping down unexpectedly, a surprise to the NFLPA’s executive committee. His resignation followed several investigative reports linking him to a Booz Allen sexual discrimination suit, FBI inquiries into union finances, and concerns about his consulting role with a private equity firm aiming to own NFL teams. Additionally, revelations about a secret NFL non-disclosure agreement related to player compensation disputes fueled controversy.
Despite the turmoil, the union’s executive committee has voiced cautious support for Howell and affirmed a deliberate, non-rushed investigation process. Some committee members expressed strong backing for Howell’s leadership and the NFLPA’s direction as recently as a few days before his resignation.
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Fan Take: This news matters to NFL fans because it exposes troubling governance issues within the NFLPA, an organization meant to protect players’ interests. The potential misuse of union funds and lack of transparent leadership could impact player trust and the union’s effectiveness, ultimately influencing the future of player representation and labor relations in the NFL.
