Alumni NFL Players’ Union Taps Former Big Red Star as Executive Director Stories You May Like ‘Advocate for Cornell, and for Higher Education’ Vintage Color Slides Bring East Hill’s Past to Vivid Life Brrr! Test Your Knowledge of East Hill’s Winter Readiness JC Tretter ’13, a past offensive lineman with the Packers and Browns, previously served as the organization’s president By Cornellians staff A former Big Red football star and pro player has been elected executive director of the NFL players’ union. ILR alum JC Tretter ’13, who played 111 games in the league over the course of eight seasons, previously served as president of the union, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). “There are times in your life when you know that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. That’s where I am today,” Tretter said in a statement announcing his new position in March 2026. “I’m grateful for the trust my fellow players have placed in me, and I’m going to reward that trust with my fullest commitment to these players and chart a new course for our union. My sole goal is to build up the strength of the NFLPA.” Playing for the Big Red against Harvard. Also a high school basketball star in his Western New York hometown, Tretter started off as a tight end for the Big Red, lettering his first two seasons. As a sophomore, he was notable for catching a 27-yard touchdown pass during an away game against Columbia—one of only two catches that season greater than 20 yards. Switching to left tackle for his junior season entailed putting on pounds of muscle, which required not only hours in the gym but constant calorie consumption. As a sophomore, Tretter was notable for catching a 27-yard touchdown pass during an away game against Columbia—one of only two catches that season greater than 20 yards. And it paid off: Tretter’s performance for the Big Red earned him numerous honors, including unanimous selection to the All-Ivy First Team as a senior. A fourth-round pick (122nd overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft, Tretter was an offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers from 2014–17—his rookie season was lost to injury—then moved to the Cleveland Browns until his retirement in 2022. He was inducted into the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023. Stories You May Like ‘Advocate for Cornell, and for Higher Education’ Vintage Color Slides Bring East Hill’s Past to Vivid Life Speaking at his Hall of Fame induction dinner. “After I left Cornell, I’ve never felt like I’ve worked,” he recalled in an ILR story about his return to campus for the induction ceremony. “Football was fun. And the last year and a half of my life, working with the NFLPA full time, has not felt like a job to me.” Tretter was an offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers from 2014–17, then moved to the Cleveland Browns until his retirement in 2022. Tretter served two terms as NFLPA president—including during the COVID pandemic, which upended pro sports along with other in-person events. Having retired from the Browns, Tretter wasn’t eligible for a third term, as election to the presidency (and other offices on the NFLPA’s Board of Player Representatives) is open only to current players. As executive director, he’s the union’s principal administrative officer. Greeting the crowd during halftime at Schoellkopf in fall 2023. “I understand the responsibility that comes with this role and how important it is to stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with player leadership,” Tretter said in the statement. “This union has always played a critical role in shaping the game, and that work is as important now as it’s ever been. The NFLPA needs leadership that listens, leads with integrity, and puts players first every day. That’s exactly how I plan to lead.” Tretter’s Cornellian family includes a fellow Big Red football player—uncle David Tretter ’78—and an older sister, CALS alum Katherine Tretter ’11. (Top photo by Erik Drost. All other images courtesy of Big Red Athletics.) Published March 30, 2026 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Campus & Beyond The Glories of a Big Red Sunset—Showcased on Instagram 6 Questions For ... What’s Up with the World of Work? ILR Dean Weighs In Campus & Beyond Good Reads: Cornell University Press Is Thriving in the Digital Age