The Truth About The NFLPA's Commitment to Former Players

With so much misinformation and complete deception out there about what the NFLPA has, over the years, done for Former Players here is a one pager which should prove enlightning.

While we know there is much more work to be done, Legacy Fund and increase in Pension, the work done should not be ignored.


The NFLPA provides its players with the most generous retirement package in all of professional sports, including access to a Pension Plan, a Second Career Savings Plan (401(k)), an Annuity Program, and Severance Pay.

In 2007, the NFL contributed $216.3 million to the players’ retirement income plans, compared to $117.5 million in MLB, $34.3 million in the NBA, and $29 million in the NHL.

Total assets of the Second Career Savings Plan and Annuity Program have grown from $0 in 1993 to over $800 million and $340 million, respectively.


The NFLPA is constantly working to improve retired player benefits and access to these benefits.

The vesting requirement for the Retirement Plan has decreased from 5 years to 3 years.

The minimum monthly benefit credit has quadrupled since 1993, from $60 to $250.

Plan 88 was added to the CBA in 2007 providing eligible retired players with up to $88,000 per year for medical and custodial care resulting from dementia or Alzheimer’s.

In 2007, surviving widow and children benefits were tripled.

The deadline of 48 months to allow players to apply for Line of Duty disability benefits was increased to the greater of 48 months or the number of credited seasons earned.

Most players receiving Total & Permanent (T&P) disability will now only go through a continuation review every 5 years, as opposed to 3 years.

Players who took their NFL pension early, and therefore were ineligible to apply for and receive disability benefits, recently had the opportunity to apply for T&P disability.


The Gene Upshaw Players Assistance Trust Fund assists former players faced with catastrophic financial and health related issues by offering grants.
$8.2 million have been awarded to 1,328 retired players since the fund’s inception in 1990.


Established in 2007, the Player Care Foundation is designed to promote improvements in the health and well-being of retired players by providing services such as:

▪ Joint Replacement Surgery ▪ Discount Prescription Drug Card
▪ Cardiovascular & Prostate Screenings ▪ Assisted Living Assistance
▪ Spine Treatment Program ▪ Medicare Supplement Plan


The NFLPA takes an active role in facilitating the transition from life as an active player to life as a retired player through various educational initiatives and career programs, including:

▪ Tuition Reimbursement ▪ University of Phoenix Scholarships
▪ NFLPA Job Board ▪ Broadcast Boot Camp
▪ Career Opportunity Expo ▪ Educational Grants
▪ NFLPA Internship Program for Players ▪ NCAA Coaching Internship

My Response to Dave Pear's Blog

Dave,

I've read your numerous posts and have had interaction with you before as a board director member of the NFL Players Association Former Players. In previous conversations I expressed to you that we are both trying to do the same thing and that is to do things for the betterment of Former Players. My attempts to try to reach you and to reach some kind of understanding were lost. Now a legitimate effort by DeMaurice Smith and the National Football League players Association to review your case has been trampled upon by your actions and words. It is unreasonable to expect that before a new collective bargaining agreement can be reached that a new disability plan can be put in place. The owners want to do away with the pension plan of the current players altogether, to make them take an 18% pay cut, and to increase the amount of games and damage their bodies take.  All of your venom and attack have been at the NFL PA. It's interesting how there is not as much emphasis on the fact that it will take a new collective bargaining agreement to obtain any changes to the current disability plan. Changes which you think and you would have others believe are squarely in the hands of the NFL PA. That is simply not the case. I have read John Hogan's letter to DeMaurice Smith. There is no wrongdoing on the part of the NFL Players Association as it pertains to your case. The fault is with the current collective bargaining agreement disability plan. Not with any actions or lack thereof of the NFL Players Association. We have pledged to try to implement a new system of disability through the new collective bargaining agreement. That is something that DeMaurice Smith has spoken to us about as Board of Directors, Chapter Presidents, and members of the Players Association. Your attacks on the one institution that actually can do good for your cause is misguided, selfish, and destructive to everyone else who will have claims in the future. I have expressed to you my sympathies for the pain and suffering that this game has caused you. I and thousands of other former players who are just like you, suffer just like you, but do not choose to attack the NFL PA like you. Those thousands have decided to back the institution that has always been there for them. Not without mistakes, or misjudgments, but has always been and will continue to be there for them. This new NFL PA is not your enemy. No matter how much venom and misguided attacks you may throw our way. DeMaurice Smith's duty and my duty are to continue to fight for all current and former players’ rights and benefits. To create a system in this next collective bargaining agreement that will rectify the inadequacies that exists in the current agreement. The administration of today will attempt to correct the mistakes of the past. But we can only do that with the support of those of the past and the present. John Hogan spoke of my leaving before his presentation at the Independent retired football players’ summit. That was not of any disrespect for one disability attorney’s opinion. But because I have extreme confidence in this executive director, this players association, and this senior directors desire to make things better for all players.

While this might not be politically correct, to be honest with you, from reading your posts I don't believe that anything we do or say will be good enough for you. For example, we are advocating for a Legacy fund, that can help put money in the pockets of many former players and you attack that concept. Why would you attack the possibility that we could get the owners to repay the players what they owe? This is money that is owed to you and thousands of other players out there who participated in the building of this game but have not seen their benefits increase like the rise in value of the teams that they bled for. As I stated before, I will continue this fight along with the help of our elected leadership the NFL PA staff and our Executive Director until we have won. That is the only outcome that will be acceptable to me and to everyone that I'm associated with.

Nolan Harrison III 

Senior Dir. NFLPA Former Players

LA Oakland Raiders

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Redskins

1991 to 2001

NFLPA Former Players Board of Directors Chairman Cornelius Bennett responds to the NFL's George Martin/Roger Goodell benefits message.

“We applaud the Commissioner's guarantee of the benefits our players fought so hard to obtain. He should also quickly guarantee the health care and benefits for all current players in the event of a lockout in March and commit the Owners to provide $1M to a legacy fund to improve former player benefits. Current and former players stand as ONE.”

NFLPA legend Nolan Harrison recently participated in a literacy event for youth in Detroit

This was an outstanding experience and it shows what union and community leaders can do for our families and especially our children.