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For Immediate Release
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Contact: Carl Francis
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March 15, 2009
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(202) 756-9169
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Carl.Francis@nflplayers.com
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BOARD OF PLAYER REPS ELECTS DEMAURICE SMITH AS NEW NFLPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Maui, Hawaii – The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) announced today that attorney DeMaurice Smith has been named the new NFL Players Association Executive Director. NFLPA Player Representatives acting on behalf of the 32 NFL teams selected Smith to succeed the late Gene Upshaw, who died in August. Smith becomes only the third Executive Director in NFLPA history and will serve a three-year term.
“I’m humbled by their decision. I’m honored and proud to lead a great group of men,” Smith said. “I think we understand the challenges that face us but we also understand the strength of our unity.”
The search for the new Executive Director began shortly after Upshaw’s death, when Acting Executive Director Richard Berthelsen, NFLPA President Kevin Mawae (Tennessee), and Executive Committee members Domonique Foxworth (Baltimore), Tony Richardson (New York Jets), Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis), Mike Vrabel (Kansas City) and Donovin Darius, were appointed to the Search Committee. Reilly Partners, an executive search firm based out of Chicago, was then hired to assist the Committee in its search.
The NFLPA’s constitution requires that the Executive Director be elected by a majority of the members of the Board of Player Representatives. Smith was unanimously elected to the position.
Smith was selected from among three other finalists for the Executive Director position: former NFLPA Presidents Trace Armstrong and Troy Vincent and sports attorney David Cornwell. The four finalists were given the opportunity to speak directly to the 70 Player Representatives and Alternates in attendance during hour-long presentations on Saturday. They then met with Player Reps in smaller break-out sessions this morning before the official election took place in the afternoon.
“The Board of Player Representatives made a decision today that will chart the course of this organization,” NFLPA President Kevin Mawae said. “This decision is a legacy decision. It is one that will unify and strengthen the National Football League Players Association.”
Smith, 45, is a trial lawyer and litigation partner at D.C. law firm Patton Boggs. He has defended individuals in high profile criminal cases and Congressional investigations while also representing Fortune 500 companies in criminal and complex civil cases, compliance matters, and internal investigations. A former assistant U.S. attorney, Smith previously served as counsel to then Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder in the U.S. Department of Justice.
Smith graduated from Cedarville University and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. Smith, who is married with two children, will begin his term with the NFLPA immediately and will work out of the Association’s Washington D.C. office.
Click here for DeMaurice Smith's biography
Click here to see what Player Reps are saying about DeMaurice Smith
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