Phil Simms has questioned the NFL Players Association’s effectiveness, arguing that it has not taken a strong enough stand for football players. The former New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl XXI MVP contrasted his view of the NFLPA with the work of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, which he described as more serious about supporting its members.
Speaking on Iona University’s Graduate Program in Sports Media, Simms recalled his experience with the football union, including during a players’ strike. He said he had doubts about what the association represented and whether its efforts produced meaningful results for players.
“The NFL players, the association, it’s, I don’t even know what it is,” Simms said. “They’ve never stood up for anything. So, we’re going on strike. We got nothing out of it.”
Simms also recalled discussions about player needs, including health insurance. He said the issue was especially important for football players who had endured the physical demands of the sport and might need support after their careers ended. In his view, the NFLPA’s approach did not match the commitment he believed baseball’s alumni association showed.
His criticism comes against a history of contentious labor relations in the NFL. In 2011, owners and players failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. The owners locked out players on March 12, halting league operations as the two sides disputed issues including the salary cap, player safety, revenue sharing, rookie compensation and free agency.
After negotiations stalled, the NFLPA decertified, allowing players to pursue antitrust lawsuits. Owners approved a settlement on July 21 by a vote of 31–0, with the Raiders abstaining. The lockout ended after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith signed the agreement.
Questions about how the NFLPA represented players also emerged in 2020, when retired players raised concerns about changes to Social Security disability payments under a new labor agreement. Attorney Ben Meiselas said his clients had asked the union whether their benefits would be affected but did not receive clear answers before or after a March 5 presentation.
The agreement passed on March 15 by 60 votes. Meiselas said his clients learned only afterward that they would lose benefits. He accused the NFLPA of failing to answer their questions and, at times, providing misleading information.
Meiselas also disputed the union’s account of how the changes had been explained to former players. He said emails contradicted the claim that a presentation had addressed the changes and their potential impact on 400 players. He called for a re-vote, arguing that the agreement had serious consequences for disabled former players and their families.
The NFLPA disputed the allegations. The union said the change corrected an omission, and George Atallah described the claims as false.
Simms pointed to the MLBPAA as an example of an organization he believes takes a different approach. Founded in 1982 and based in Colorado Springs, the nonprofit promotes baseball, supports charitable fundraising and youth education, and works to protect the game’s dignity through the involvement of former players. It also helps players navigate life after their playing careers.
The organization has more than 9,500 members, including 6,500 alumni and active players, and has raised more than $75 million for charities. On its 40th anniversary, Jesse Sanchez credited its success to listening to members and adapting over time.
That contrast helps explain Simms’s criticism. His remarks reflect a broader question for players’ organizations: whether members feel their concerns are heard and whether they receive clear information about decisions that affect them. The NFLPA’s labor history and the 2020 dispute over disability benefits have continued to fuel questions about its representation of current and former players. Meanwhile, the MLBPAA presents a model focused on alumni services, charitable work and continued engagement with its members.
