Dennis Curran: Senior Vice President of Labor Litigation and Policy National Football League

Abstract

Dennis Curran is Senior Vice President of Labor Litigation and Policy for the National Football League and is General Counsel of the NFL Management Council, the collective bargaining representative of all NFL clubs. Why did this type of career move intrigue you, and how did you get started? I was a college and professional football fan and season ticket holder of the Boston College Eagles and the Boston (New England) Patriots but had no aspirations of working in the industry until after moving to Miami and completing law school.

Dennis Curran is Senior Vice President of Labor Litigation and Policy for the National Football League and is General Counsel of the NFL Management Council, the collective bargaining representative of all NFL clubs. He has been employed by the NFL since 1980.

Mr. Curran has been one of the chief negotiators for the NFL of a series of collective bargaining agreements (1982, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2011) reached with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). He also manages all labor related litigation filed by players or the NFLPA. Mr. Curran supervises a legal staff that provides counsel to the NFL clubs in interpretation and implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and that represents the clubs in grievance arbitrations.

As General Counsel, he directs compliance with the NFL Salary Cap and represents the league in cap circumvention cases. His staff also administers, along with the NFLPA, a series of benefit plans including the Retirement and Disability Plans, the NFL Severance Plan, the Player Annuity Plan, and the Player Care Foundation.

Prior to his work with the NFL, Mr. Curran served as Labor Relations Counsel to National Airlines and Pan American World Airways. After law school, Mr. Curran was an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County, Florida, where he directed investigations of public corruption and organized crime cases along with trials and appeals to the Florida Appellate courts.

Mr. Curran received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College in 1971 and his J.D. degree from the University of Miami in 1975.

Interview* by

Raúl Fernández-Calienes

Managing Editor, Journal of Multidisciplinary Research

Q1. Based on your in-depth knowledge of the sports industry, what would you say are contributing factors to an athlete's success or failure?

The foremost factor in any athletic success is demonstrated superior talent in performing the sport. While natural ability (size, passing, blocking, catching) either is there or is not, dedication to training and to one's coaches can maximize natural ability, so a less naturally talented player can sometimes outperform other more talented players.

Q2. How has the nature of professional football changed since you started your career?

The National Football League (NFL) has evolved in many ways. It has expanded three times (from 28 clubs to 32). It has maximized its exposure through scheduling of games on Sunday nights and Thursdays, and it has capitalized on the electronic revolution to produce football-related content for new devices as they are introduced. It now plays regular season games overseas and becomes a more year round presence through promotion of the Draft and the Indianapolis Combine. The labor problems of player free agency and sharing of revenues have largely been solved through the Salary Cap and agreed-to free agency parameters.

Q3. Why did this type of career move intrigue you, and how did you get started?

I was a college and professional football fan and season ticket holder of the Boston College Eagles and the Boston (New England) Patriots but had no aspirations of working in the industry until after moving to Miami and completing law school. An opportunity developed at the NFL that utilized my trial experience obtained at the Dade State Attorney's office in Florida, and arbitration and labor work at National Airlines.

Q4. What is a typical day for you like?

I travel about 100 days a year for various arbitration hearings, court dates, Boards of Trustee meetings, and union meetings.

When not traveling, I will prepare for those matters and meet with my staff to see if I can assist them with their cases or negotiations. When collective bargaining occurs, most of the time is spent in preparing proposals and conducting negotiations.

Q5. How would you describe the working atmosphere and the people with whom you work?

The NFL has excellent facilities and talented workers in all departments. In addition to my immediate Legal/Labor staff, the public nature of our legal proceedings and collective bargaining requires close coordination with the Legal and Public Relations Departments. Many other departments (Football Operations, Officiating, Broadcasting, Player Engagement, etc.) help with the development of proposals for the player's union in a collaborative manner so a unified "NFL" position is created.

Q6. Can you suggest any particular skills or talents that are most essential to be effective in your job?

One has to have a feel for negotiation and compromise when that is called for in litigation or collective bargaining but also have the temperament to refuse a bad deal and fight through litigation or labor actions.

Q7. What have been the most rewarding or fulfilling experiences in your life personally, professionally, cross-culturally?

Personally, 41 years of marriage and raising 3 children to adulthood has been fulfilling, if not financially rewarding (tuitions are expensive!!).

Professionally, having maintained the confidence of 3 Commissioners, their staffs, and the owners of our Clubs over 34 years must mean I'm doing something right (or I'm an exceptionally good bluffer).

Q8. What have been the most difficult challenges you have ever faced?

The periodic labor challenges are probably the most difficult. The 1982 and 1987 strikes, replacing our players for three games in 1987, the 2011 lockout, and the extensive antitrust lawsuits are probably the best examples of obstacles that needed to be overcome.

Q9. What sources of strength have you drawn upon to face such challenges?

The support of family and friends on a personal level. Professionally, having the backing of the people and organization that created and produces the country's most popular sport has always made things easier.

Q10. What Message do you have for the next generation of persons who choose to pursue sports or sports management?

I don't have a capital "M" Message. Working hard and developing skills that can be valuable both in and out of sports may help in the search for a job in the industry. Sometimes hard work and professionalism helps create your own "luck" and, similar to a player competing for a position, give you an edge in that competition.

To Cite this Interview

Fernández-Calienes, R. (2014, Fall). Life forward: Dennis Curran, senior vice president of labor litigation and policy, National Football League. Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 6(3), 73-76.

Footnote

* Appreciation goes to the Honorable David Levy for his assistance in making this interview possible.