DeMaurice Smith | Ex-Director NFLPA | Turf Wars “It’s Complicated” | S6 EP 19

What does it really take to stand between billion-dollar owners and the most elite athletes in the world?

On this powerful episode of the Black in Sports Podcast, we sit down with DeMaurice Smith, former Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, leverage, and legacy at the highest level of professional sports.
In 2009, DeMaurice Smith was unanimously voted to lead the NFLPA—stepping into one of the most influential and high-pressure roles in sports business. Over a 14-year tenure, he became one of the most consequential labor leaders in modern sports history, navigating collective bargaining agreements, player safety battles, revenue sharing, health benefits, and guaranteed contracts, all while protecting the interests of NFL players in a system built on power and profit.

We dive deep into:
🏈Why Smith chose the NFLPA over a role in the Obama Administration
🏈The behind-the-scenes power dynamics between players, owners, and the league
🏈Key wins and challenges during his 14 years leading the union
🏈How leadership, negotiation, and integrity collide in sports business
🏈Why he was the only person who could write Turf Wars—and what the book reveals about the real fights shaping the NFL
🏈The personal toll of leadership when the stakes are generational wealth, health, and careers

Turf Wars isn’t just a sports book—it’s a masterclass on power, advocacy, race, labor, and business, told by someone who lived it in real time. Smith explains why the stories in this book matter far beyond football—and why understanding labor in sports is essential to understanding America.

This episode is a must-listen for:
🏈 Sports executives & business professionals
📚 Students studying sports management & law
🎧 Athletes, agents, and union leaders
🔥 Fans who want the truth behind the shield

More of De Smith:
Instagram:  @demauricesmith 
Get the book – Turf Wars: https://turfwarsbook.com/
 
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