DeMaurice F. “De” Smith is a lawyer and former Executive Director of the NFL Players Association (2009–2023).

He gained recognition for leading the union through pivotal moments such as the 2011 lockout and negotiating landmark collective bargaining agreements that secured record revenue shares, enhanced health protections, and improved retirement benefits for players. 

In his forthcoming book, Turf Wars: The Fight for the Soul of America’s Game, Smith offers a candid and scathing insider’s account of power struggles within the NFL.