DeMaurice Smith

DeMaurice F. "De" Smith (born February 3, 1964) is the former executive director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). He was elected unanimously on March 15, 2009. As executive director of the NFLPA during the 2011 NFL lockout, Smith played a major role in helping the players and NFL owners come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Smith was replaced by Lloyd Howell Jr. on June 23, 2023.

Education Smith received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his B.A. degree in political science from Cedarville University, a Baptist school in Ohio. Smith previously served as counsel to then-deputy attorney general Eric Holder in the U.S. Department of Justice before entering private practice. He spent nine years with the U.S. Attorney's office and one with the Department of Justice, working on issues like national security and prison construction.

On March 15, 2009, Smith was elected unanimously by a board of active player representatives to become the executive director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). Although Smith lacked football experience, his ties to presidential power and business experts helped give him an advantage over other potential candidates like Troy Vincent, Trace Armstrong, and sports attorney David Cornwell. As executive director, Smith has emphasized that players need to take more control of their careers, educate themselves, and be more involved in the process.

During Smith's first term as executive director of the NFLPA, the issue that dominated dialogue was the 2011 lockout.

Smith spoke at the commencements for the University of Maryland in 2011 and the University of Virginia School of Law in May 2015. In August 2017, he joined the Prince George's County Lacrosse Club Board of Directors.