DeMaurice Smith Named NFLPA Director

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The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) announced today that attorney DeMaurice Smith has been named the new National Football League Players Association Executive Director. NFLPA Player Representatives, acting on behalf of the 32 NFL teams, selected Mr. Smith to succeed the late Gene Upshaw, who died in August. Mr. Smith becomes only the third Executive Director in NFLPA history and will serve a three-year term. He made the following statement regarding his new assignment:

“I’m humbled by their decision. I’m honored and proud to lead a great group of men. I think we understand the challenges that face us but we also understand the strength of our unity.”

The search for the new Executive Director began shortly after Mr. Upshaw’s death, when Acting Executive Director Richard Berthelsen, NFLPA President Kevin Mawae (Tennessee), and Executive Committee members Domonique Foxworth (Baltimore), Tony Richardson (New York Jets), Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis), Mike Vrabel (Kansas City) and Donovin Darius, were appointed to the Search Committee. Reilly Partners, an executive search firm based out of Chicago, was then hired to assist the Committee in its search. The NFLPA’s constitution requires that the Executive Director be elected by a majority of the members of the Board of Player Representatives. Mr. Smith was unanimously elected to the position.

Mr. Smith was selected from among three other finalists for the Executive Director position: former NFLPA Presidents Trace Armstrong and Troy Vincent and sports attorney David Cornwell. The four finalists were given the opportunity to speak directly to the 70 Player Representatives and Alternates in attendance during hour-long presentations on Saturday. They then met with Player Reps in smaller break-out sessions this morning before the official election took place in the afternoon. NFLPA President Kevin Mawae also made the following statement regarding today’s announcement:

“The Board of Player Representatives made a decision today that will chart the course of this organization. This decision is a legacy decision. It is one that will unify and strengthen the National Football League Players Association.”

Here’s a quick bio on Mr. Smith. He’s a trial lawyer and litigation partner at D.C. law firm Patton Boggs. He has defended individuals in high profile criminal cases and Congressional investigations while also representing Fortune 500 companies in criminal and complex civil cases, compliance matters, and internal investigations. He’s a former assistant U.S. attorney and previously served as counsel to then Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder in the U.S. Department of Justice. He graduated from Cedarville University and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. Mr. Smith is married with two children and will begin his term with the NFLPA immediately.

Source: NFLPlayers.com, Photo: Newscom