The NFL has agreed to contribute $42 million over eight years to a fund to assist retired players with medical, housing and career transition costs in a settlement of a 2009 lawsuit. The class-action lawsuit brought by retired players asked for compensation for the use of their names and images in NFL Films footage.
NFL settles lawsuit with retired players over image use
The NFL reached an agreement in the 2009 lawsuit by retired NFL players asking to be compensated for the use of their names and images in NFL Films footage.
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The settlement was announced on the first day of NFL league meetings in Phoenix this week by commissioner Roger Goodell, Carolina Panthers owner and former player Jerry Richardson and 15 other retired players, including Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown. In addition to the $42 million the NFL will pay towards retired player benefits, the settlement will also create an independent licensing agency to protect players from having their images used without compensation in the future.
The $42 million fund will be administered by seven of the retired players who joined Goodell for the announcement on Monday. A board of retired players will oversee the licensing agency that will operate without connection to the NFL or NFLPA.
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