- May 21, 2026
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Long-time in-house counsel to the NFL Players Association Heather McPhee has settled her lawsuit against the union.
Via Daniel Kaplan, a new filing shows that McPhee has resolved her claims with the NFLPA and general counsel Tom DePaso. The lawsuit continues as to former NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell and Players Inc. president Matt Curtin.
McPhee sued in December 2025, accusing the defendants of obstruction of justice, sex discrimination; intentional infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract. At the time, she had been placed on leave. She was fired within a month after filing the lawsuit.
Her lawsuit focuses on two situations that had unfolded last year. She had raised concerns about the One Team Partners’ Senior Executive Incentive Plan, which was aimed at compensating One Team Partners board members who were affiliated with the NFLPA. Second, she had complained about the NFLPA’s decision to conceal the partial victory in the collusion grievance relating to the NFL’s failure to give guaranteed contracts to veteran players, in the aftermath of the five-year, fully-guaranteed Deshaun Watson contract.
In April 2026, she had asked the court to stay the litigation after being hospitalized following a "serious accident."
Via Daniel Kaplan, a new filing shows that McPhee has resolved her claims with the NFLPA and general counsel Tom DePaso. The lawsuit continues as to former NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell and Players Inc. president Matt Curtin.
McPhee sued in December 2025, accusing the defendants of obstruction of justice, sex discrimination; intentional infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract. At the time, she had been placed on leave. She was fired within a month after filing the lawsuit.
Her lawsuit focuses on two situations that had unfolded last year. She had raised concerns about the One Team Partners’ Senior Executive Incentive Plan, which was aimed at compensating One Team Partners board members who were affiliated with the NFLPA. Second, she had complained about the NFLPA’s decision to conceal the partial victory in the collusion grievance relating to the NFL’s failure to give guaranteed contracts to veteran players, in the aftermath of the five-year, fully-guaranteed Deshaun Watson contract.
In April 2026, she had asked the court to stay the litigation after being hospitalized following a "serious accident."