How to Break a Union From the Inside: The NFL Players Association, Pt. 2

In this gripping follow-up to 'It Could Happen Here's' investigation into the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), host Mia Wong dives deep into the union's systemic betrayal of its members in the 2020s. The episode centers on the shocking cover-up of a judge’s arbitration ruling that found clear evidence of collusion among NFL owners to suppress player salaries—particularly during Lamar Jackson’s 2022 free agency, when he was effectively blocked from signing with any team despite being a generational talent. The union, led by figures like J.C. Tretter and Lloyd Howell, allegedly hid this evidence, undermining player agency and setting a precedent that allowed owners to maintain control. The episode reveals how Tretter, once a respected player and union president, returned to power as executive director after a staged, low-turnout election, aided by a strategic re-signing of Jalen Reeves-Maben by the Chicago Bears to reset his eligibility. Wong argues this is not just corruption but a calculated dismantling of labor power, enabled by low voter turnout, bureaucratic manipulation, and a culture of secrecy. She draws parallels to broader American labor failures, emphasizing that the NFLPA’s collapse reflects a national crisis in worker representation, where unions no longer serve their members but instead act as corporate appendages. Despite the bleak picture, she ends on a note of hope, citing the UAW’s successful reform caucus as proof that change is possible when ordinary people organize.