fbpx
Skip to main content

DeMaurice Smith Facing Four Challengers for NFLPA’s Top Position

The NFL Players Association will meet for its annual conference in Hawaii late next month. In that meeting, the union’s 32 team reps will elect who it deems should run the union moving forward.

DeMaurice Smith has held the executive director post for the past six years. During his tenure, the union has been weakened considerably due to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement which was agreed to in 2011.

Smith is facing four challengers for the position. Former NFL player Sean Gilbert is seen as the most legitimate threat to defeat Smith.

While some of Gilbert’s platform is extreme, including an elimination of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement via a collusion lawsuit, he does have a rather interesting platform. His plan includes a $1 million minimum annual salary, the elimination of two preseason games and free agency after three years in the NFL.

Gilbert’s election may be seen as a longshot, but he has put forth a plan that some players around the league may very well support over what Smith has done since he took over the gig. In short, it’s not a foregone conclusion that Smith will be re-elected. If he isn’t, labor issues could be the name of the game around the National Football League in the years to come.

Here’s a link to the platforms for all four men challenging Smith for the executive direct role.

Photo: CBS Sports

More About: