Former Cleveland Browns center and NFLPA president JC Tretter was on The Pat McAfee Show to discuss the direction of the NFLPA after electing the new executive director Lloyd Howell. The interview was a little over 30 minutes long, not including some technical difficulties that disconnected the two.
Pat McAfee, the longtime NFL special teamer, has been a vocal critic of the players association. The interview provided rare insights into the tight-lipped union. Here are the most important takeaways from the interview.
NFLPA spent over 570 hours to find their new executive director
The exhaustive search was led by the Executive Committee, composed of former Browns players JC Tretter, Alex Mack, and Jason McCourty, including eight other long-term veterans. The Players Association hired Russell and Reynolds, a famous management consulting firm, to lead the search. Tretter explained that the search for the executive director was confidential due to the request of interviewees.
Tretter clarified that the NFLPA invited former players to apply or recommend people for the executive director job. The Washington Post reported earlier this week that former NFL player, union leader, and current ESPN analyst, Dominique Foxworth was considered for the position. The search lasted well over 16 months.
The extensive search included over 570 hours of meetings to establish the criteria needed for the job and vetting and discussing the candidates. McAfee, in a state of amazement, quickly translated the hours into days. His eyes widened as he exclaimed that the Executive Committee met for 23.75 days to discuss the executive director position.
Why the NFLPA decided on Lloyd Howell
Lloyd Howell is an experienced businessman with a history of handling high stake negotiations. His career also includes high-level team building and staffing, an area JC Tretter sounded interested in as the Players Association may look to expand their offerings under their new leadership. Lloyd Howell sits on the board of GE Healthcare, and his knowledge of the industry is vital for the union, as players worry about their long-term healthcare
Life-Time healthcare would cost $2 Billion
Pat McAfee asked JC Tretter about the union’s efforts to get lifetime health insurance for the players. Lifetime health insurance is a big issue for former vested players, whose insurance ends five years after they retire. Tretter said the Players Association explored lifetime insurance for the past 15 years. Tretter shared that a report estimated that lifetime health insurance for players would cost over two billion dollars. To pay for it would require a drastic cut to the salary cap and player salaries, a non-starter for the players.
Gambling Rules are Inconsistent
Pat McAfee asked JC Tretter about the recent gambling suspensions issued by the NFL. Tretter explained that players must practice common sense when gambling. He also stated that the league should install common-sense gambling rules. Tretter expounded on the inconsistencies regarding league rules surrounding gambling in casinos on casino games. The rules state while players cannot gamble at a casino on road games, they can go to a local casino during home games. Tretter emphasized that the league and the union must work together in shaping and complying with the gambling rules.
Grass, grass, and super grass
Near the end of the interview, Adam “Pacman” Jones, McAfee’s co-host, asked JC Tretter about two major concerns among current players: marijuana testing and grass fields. While Tretter did not have enough time to discuss the league’s drug testing policy, he did address the players’ demand for more grass fields. Over the past decade, numerous scientific and medical reports have shown that football players experience more injuries on turf fields compared to grass fields.
Tretter expressed his support for the grass, stating that every team should play on grass fields. He explained that, in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, every stadium hosting the games will replace its turf with grass fields that meet FIFA’s requirements. The hosts refer to this new grass as “Super Grass.” Currently, the NFL plans to remove all the grass fields installed for the World Cup and re-install turf before the NFL season begins. Tretter and the union are working on a plan with the league to ensure that every team has a grass field after the World Cup.
JC Tretter’s interview with Pat McAfee marks the longest public interview Tretter has given about the Players Association, and it sounds like it won’t be his last interview with McAfee who seemed to appreciate Tretter’s answers.
