Former NFLPA president JC Tretter has abruptly resigned from the union, further complicating its situation after the exit of executive director Lloyd Howell.
Tretter was viewed as a potential interim successor to Howell, but told Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports on Sunday that he was walking away from the union due in part to rumors and speculation about his possible pursuit about the permanent position.
“Over the last couple days, it has gotten very, very hard for my family. And that’s something I can’t deal with,” Tretter said. “So, the short bullet points are: I have no interest in being [executive director]. I have no interest in being considered; I’ve let the executive committee know that. I’m also going to leave the NFLPA in the coming days because I don’t have anything left to give the organization.”
Tretter has been criticized recently for the perception that he has tried to seize control of the NFLPA, as well as his role in the hiring of Howell, who resigned amid questions about his use of union funds and potential conflicts of interest in his role as union head.
Tretter was named as a favorite to take over for Howell on an interim basis. There was some pushback, however, amid the perception that Tretter was behind the original ill-fated hire of Howell in 2023.
Source says this text message is being shared among NFL players tonight. A lot of displeasure with JC Tretter, the NFLPA’s chief strategy officer pic.twitter.com/VuEWbTK8vj
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) July 19, 2025
Tretter was somewhat critical of the NFLPA for, as he saw it, making him take the public criticism for weeks.
“I’m not resigning because what I’ve been accused of is true. … I’m not resigning in disgrace. I’m resigning because this has gone too far for me and my family, and I’ve sucked it up for six weeks. And I felt like I’ve been kind of left in the wind taking shots for the best of the organization,” Tretter said.
The NFLPA is left in a tough spot as they look for a new interim executive director. With Tretter out of the running, it is unclear where they will turn.
Tretter spent eight years in the NFL as an offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns. He last played in the league in 2021.
