The NFL Players’ Association has turned to the man who finished second to Lloyd Howell Jr in the race to become the union’s executive director in 2023 as it searches for a successor to the controversial appointment.

Only in office for a couple of years, Howell’s leadership had been clouded with controversy, right from questions being raised over the means of his election to a series of issues that, in recent months, have cast doubt on his ability to conduct his role either without a conflict of interest or in a manner befitting of both the position and the group he represented.

Since succeeding DeMaurice Smith, Howell has been embroiled in an ongoing FBI investigation regarding his dealings with pro player NIL booster OneTeam Partners, in which he is alleged to have profited improperly from licensing deals; a potential conflict of interest as a consultant potential NFL investor Carlyle Group; and allegations of covering up legal agreements with the league that were resolved to the detriment of the players. Since his sudden exit, it has also been reported that Howell had a penchant for strip clubs and outsized expense claims resulting from it.

According to NBC Sports sources, representatives of all 32 NFL teams were involved in White’s election on Sunday night, choosing him over ‘a short list of candidates [that] included multiple internal and external candidates’.

Described in the NFLPA’s official announcement of his election as ‘a seasoned labour executive, board leader, proven negotiator and strategic advisor who has guided some of the most prominent entertainment and financial organisations in the world’, White is currently CEO of 3CG Ventures, a premier executive coaching and strategic consulting firm, having served as national executive director and chief negotiator of Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), the world’s largest entertainment and media union.

“On behalf of the NFLPA’s Board of Player Representatives, I am proud to share that David White has been elected to serve as our interim executive director,” NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin confirmed. “This decision is the result of a comprehensive player-led process. We understood the urgency to fill this role and did our due diligence to identify the right person to lead our union in this moment.

“We have full faith in David to take the union forward and operate in the best interests of our membership. David has spent much of his career fighting for collectively bargained rights in the labour movement and is committed to putting players first in all the union does. We are confident that he will inspire solidarity and provide the necessary stability during this period of transition.

“Soon, we will commence a thorough search process for a permanent executive director. This process will continue to be player led, as the strength of our union has and will always lie with our membership.”

A new collective bargaining agreement is a few years awayb yet, but will one of the tasks on White’s mind as he attempts to steady the NFLPA ship amid ongoing concerns about possible schedule expansion, the growing number of International Series games and assorted health and safety matters.

“I am grateful to the NFLPA’s player leadership for entrusting me with the privilege and responsibility to guide their union as interim executive director,” White acknowledged. “It’s a duty I do not take lightly, and I’m committed to re-establishing trust and ensuring the union is serving its members best. I look forward to working with the entire NFLPA team to protect players’ health and safety, secure their financial well-being and further strengthen their voice to shape their futures.”