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DeMaurice Smith: How the NFL Really Negotiates
Former NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith sits down with Trey Wingo on Straight Facts, Homie for a blunt, no-spin look at the state of NFL labor. Smith explains why he believes the players’ union is in a leadership crisis, how secret agreements with the league around collusion and guaranteed contracts undercut player power, and why understanding the history of Ed Garvey, Gene Upshaw, Bill Radovich, Marvin Miller, and the early days of the NFLPA is the only way to avoid repeating old mistakes. If you care about how the NFL really works behind the scenes, this is not a feel-good conversation. It is a reality check.
Trey and Smith walk through how the 2011 lockout, decertification, and the current CBA through 2030 actually happened, why the 17th regular season game cost the league more than a billion dollars, and what Roger Goodell is really signaling with public talk about an 18 game schedule. Smith explains “asymmetrical negotiation,” why owners do not fear a player strike, and why something as simple as refusing to attend unpaid OTAs would send a louder message than any tweet. They dig into the financial expectations around year over year billion dollar revenue growth, the owners’ leverage, and what it would actually take for players to get a fair price for an 18th or even 19th game.
From Jerry Jones refusing to deal with agent David Mulugheta, to the way agents derive their power from the NFLPA, to how workers compensation, access to medical records, and lifetime health care matter more than any one bad call from NFL referees, Smith keeps pulling the lens back to power and structure. He and Trey also touch on the impact of NIL on the culture of sports unions, the role of rank and file player reps in locker rooms, and why the next generation of leaders has to decide whether they want to be liked by owners or effective for players.
In the final stretch, Smith describes the NFL for what it is: 31 billionaire owners with no SEC oversight, no public filings, and a business model that privatizes wealth while socializing costs through taxpayer funded stadiums. Using recent examples like the Kansas City Chiefs stadium situation and Terry Pegula’s deal in Buffalo, he shows how far owners will push if no one pushes back. If you want to understand the real stakes behind the coming 18 game schedule fight, the future of the NFLPA, and what labor versus management actually looks like in pro football, this Straight Facts, Homie conversation with Trey Wingo and DeMaurice Smith is your playbook.
DeMaurice Smith is a powerhouse speaker known for leading the NFL Players Association through some of the most high-stakes negotiations in sports history. A former trial lawyer and Assistant U.S. Attorney, he blends legal expertise with bold, strategic leadership—offering compelling insights on negotiation, ethics, and resilience. From boardrooms to classrooms, Smith inspires audiences with authentic stories and hard-earned lessons on advocacy and impact. Contact us today to bring DeMaurice to your next speaking event.
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