The NFL Players Association has placed Heather McPhee, a senior attorney within the organization, on paid administrative leave after multiple staff members lodged complaints about her workplace behavior. Five sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed the development to ESPN on Thursday.
Workplace Conduct Under Scrutiny
McPhee, who has served as the union’s associate general counsel since 2009, stands accused of ignoring direct orders from supervisors, intimidating colleagues, and creating a hostile work environment at the union’s offices. The complaints were filed with NFLPA’s human resources department by several employees, including Matt Curtin, who heads NFL Players Inc. and sits on the OneTeam board.
The Federal Investigation She Set in Motion
McPhee’s placement on leave comes several months after her internal complaints launched a federal probe into how the NFLPA and Major League Baseball Players Association conduct business with OneTeam Partners, a licensing company valued at $2 billion and partially owned by both unions.
According to sources, McPhee had flagged concerns about OneTeam’s handling of finances, particularly a controversial bonus structure designed for board members. Some of these board members happened to be union executives, including former NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. and MLBPA’s Tony Clark.
Tension Within Union Headquarters
At the NFLPA’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, McPhee had earned a reputation as an outspoken opponent of Howell, who stepped down in July after questions arose about his misuse of union resources and potential conflicts of interest.
In response to the workplace complaints against McPhee, the NFLPA brought in Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, an outside law firm, to conduct an investigation. Meanwhile, a special player committee hired WilmerHale attorney Ron Machen to examine broader governance problems within the union, including Howell’s management style.
Her Part in the OneTeam Investigation
McPhee had secured her own legal representation as the FBI investigation into OneTeam gained momentum. She had pushed the NFLPA to look into whether board members granted themselves equity stakes without adequate oversight. An independent review headed by attorney Richard Smith wrapped up in March, but sources say Howell cut it short before all issues could be fully examined.
While McPhee’s internal memos helped spark the federal investigation, she hasn’t been officially designated as a whistleblower in the FBI case, which means she doesn’t have access to the legal safeguards that status would provide.
Federal Probe Continues
Details about the criminal investigation remain largely under wraps. What sources can confirm is that FBI agents have conducted interviews with numerous players from both the NFL and MLB, and the probe remains ongoing.
Fresh Leadership Takes Charge
David White, who previously held a leadership position with the SAG-AFTRA union, took over as the NFLPA’s interim executive director on August 4. White’s signature appeared on the letter announcing McPhee’s administrative leave, excerpts of which were obtained by ESPN.
The NFLPA has refused to provide public statements regarding personnel issues connected to the investigation or McPhee’s current employment status. Neither McPhee nor her legal counsel have responded to ESPN’s attempts to reach them for comment.
