Who is Heather McPhee and why was the top NFLPA attorney placed on leave?

NFLPA attorney Heather McPhee put on leave after HR complaints; earlier, her claims on NFLPA finances led to FBI investigation.

Updated on: Aug 16, 2025, 24:18:32 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Heather McPhee, a top attorney working with the NFL Players' Association (NFLPA), was placed on administrative leave by the organization Tuesday following complaints from multiple employees to the organization's human resources department. ESPN reported the story, citing five sources familiar with the matter.

McPhee made it to the headlines a few months ago when her allegations on the NFLPA's finances sparked an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The probe looked into alleged irregularities with licensing deals related to OneTeam Partners, the NFLPA's licensing company.

Who is Heather McPhee?

Heather McFee has been serving as the associate general counsel for the NFLPA since 2009. She has reportedly been an outspoken critic of former NFLPA director Lloyd Howell, per ESPN. During her time with the NFLPA, she has come under the scanner over allegations of professional bullying and not following the supervisor's directions.

ESPN reported, citing sources, that among the complainants against McPhee are Matt Curtin, the head of NFL Players Inc., also a member of the OneTeam Board. As of now, the NFLPA, McPhee, or her lawyer did not respond to press requests for comments.

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Heather McPhee's Allegations Against NFLPA

Heather McPhee reportedly wrote a series of memos to the NFLPA where she suggested that the association could be in legal trouble over a bonus plan for OneTeam board members that the board tried to bring. Former NFLPA executive director, Lloyd Howell and MLBPA executive director Tony Clark were on the board then.

She asked NFLPA to investigate OneTeam board members over claims that they had allocated shares to themselves. The issue was separately leaked to the FBI by a whistleblower, which sparked a probe. Llyod's role as the director of NFLPA was also part of a separate probe.

Notably, McPhee is not a whistleblower in the case as per the FBI, ESPN reported. It means that she will not have the legal protection of a whistleblower.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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