American Conference Commissioner Among NFLPA Executive Director Finalists

Tim Pernetti, interim director David White, and former union chief JC Tretter are the top candidates for the job.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The NFL Players Association is down to a group of finalists for its next executive director, including American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti, interim NFLPA executive director David White, and former union chief strategy officer JC Tretter. A vote is set for next month at the NFLPA's annual meeting in San Diego.

Why it matters

The NFLPA executive director plays a critical role in representing the interests of NFL players in labor negotiations, disciplinary matters, and other key issues. The selection of the next leader will have significant implications for the future of player-league relations.

The details

According to ESPN's reporting, the NFLPA is conducting a 'comprehensive search' for its next executive director after the departure of the previous leader. The three finalists were selected from a 'strong pool of highly qualified candidates,' per NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

  • The NFLPA vote is set for next month at the union's annual meeting in San Diego.

The players

Tim Pernetti

The commissioner of the American Conference, one of the finalists for the NFLPA executive director position.

David White

The interim NFLPA executive director, one of the finalists for the permanent role.

JC Tretter

The former chief strategy officer of the NFLPA, one of the finalists for the executive director position.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin

The president of the NFLPA, who stated the union is looking at a 'strong pool of highly qualified candidates' for the executive director role.

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What they’re saying

“Out of respect for the integrity of the process and those involved, we will not comment on or disclose individual names.”

— Jalen Reeves-Maybin, NFLPA President (ESPN)

What’s next

The NFLPA will hold a vote on the next executive director at its annual meeting in San Diego next month.

The takeaway

The selection of the next NFLPA executive director will be a critical decision that will shape the future of player-league relations in the NFL. The finalists represent a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences that the union will weigh carefully in making this important choice.