Gene Upshaw’s Closest Ally Finalist For NFLPA Executive Director
Trace Armstrong, who played 15 NFL seasons — six with the Bears — is one of four finalists to replace the deceased Gene Upshaw as executive director of the NFL Players Association.
Armstrong is the longest tenured NFLPA president ever, ending his eight-year term in 2003. He’s partly responsible for developing the Rooney Rule — which mandated that black coaches be considered for open positions — through his role in the formation of the NFL’s diversity committee.
This may be the most critical time for the NFLPA and NFL. Team owners recently opted out of the collective bargaining agreement and if it isn’t resolved, labor strikes would be the next maneuver.
Former NFLPA president Troy Vincent, — who is accused of leaking agents’ information to a business partner — attorney DeMaurice Smith and sports lawyer David Cornwell are the other three candidates up for election at the NFLPA meetings in Hawaii on March 15.
