The Players Alliance Names Sports Industry Veteran Jamil Northcutt as Executive Director & CEO
Board members and MLB greats Curtis Granderson, CC Sabathia, and Edwin Jackson welcome respected executive with more than 20 years of experience to the lead nonprofit
FORT LEE, NEW JERSEY (June 5, 2026) – Founded by current and former professional baseball players as a nonprofit to increase access and participation in the sport, The Players Alliance announced that sports industry veteran Dr. Jamil Northcutt has been hired as Executive Director & CEO. Dr. Northcutt. He stepped into the role in May.
Dr. Northcutt brings more than two decades of experience across college and professional sports, working with teams, leagues, and governing bodies. He began his career in college athletics with the Southeastern Conference and also spent time in the front office at Ole Miss. He worked in the professional game with the Kansas City Chiefs and later with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League, then at the NFL league office, NCAA, and Major League Soccer, where he built and led a new department from the ground up, before moving into consulting as a strategic advisor.
“Dr. Jamil Northcutt brings an extensive background across multiple sports environments, spanning longstanding organizations with established infrastructure to start-ups with rapidly evolving operations,” said three-time Major League Baseball All-Star and The Players Alliance Board Chair Curtis Granderson. “Among the competitive pool of candidates, his experience in player development, strategic partnerships, business development, revenue generation, and organizational leadership showcase a rare depth of expertise that we believe can really help us grow the games of baseball and softball across all communities.”
In his role as The Players Alliance Executive Director & CEO, Dr. Northcutt will oversee organizational strategy and execution, including board and stakeholder management, fundraising and resource generation, and staff and leadership development. He will also guide program execution and oversight, while managing risk, compliance, and organizational governance.
“I am truly honored to join The Players Alliance and to work alongside a board and staff so deeply committed to the integrity and ethics of sport,” said Dr. Northcutt. “I’m grateful to the board for their trust and the opportunity to serve the staff and our stakeholders. As I look forward to building meaningful relationships across the baseball and softball communities, we will continue to provide access, grow the game, and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.”
As Deputy Director for Athletes.org from 2025-2026, Dr. Northcutt served on the executive team, providing strategic direction and leadership while helping grow the official players association for college athletes to more than 5,000 members.
In the start-up environment at Athletes.org, he led multiple departments, facilitated long-term strategic planning and budget management, and served as a key spokesperson, including lobbying on Capitol Hill on public policy and governance issues in college athletics. He built alliances with pro sports player associations, investors, corporate partners, and vendors, while also managing various committees and working groups composed of board members, athletics directors, coaches and football general managers.
In 2024, Dr. Northcutt launched Strategic Transitions Advisors (STA) to help individuals and organizations navigate change in sports, entertainment, and higher education. Through STA’s services — including consulting, business development and coaching — he has worked with the NFL, National Basketball Association, MLS, NCAA, policy makers, and private equity groups focused on sports investments. In private equity alone, he helped generate a nine-figure capital raise.
Prior to launching STA, Dr. Northcutt spent nearly six years from 2018–2024 at MLS. As Senior Vice President of League Advancement, he built and oversaw a newly-created department that serviced the entire MLS ecosystem through four key verticals — player engagement, club relations, risk management and commercial development — across three leagues that included 2,000 players, more than 700 teams, and staff at more than 200 clubs. During his time at MLS, Dr. Northcutt also spearheaded a pair of mid seven-figure partnerships, one in education and the other in the financial sector.
Dr. Northcutt played Division I football at the University of Mississippi, where he helped Ole Miss appear in four bowl games. Following his playing career, he earned both his Master’s degree and his Ph.D. in higher education from Ole Miss. He also completed an executive education certificate from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Northcutt is a key addition to The Players Alliance as it continues its work to expand access and opportunities both on and off the field in the baseball and softball communities. He will report to the board of directors.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
CC Sabathia, The Players Alliance Board Vice Chair and National Baseball Hall of Famer
“Dr. Northcutt’s versatile skill set makes him a great fit for this role. More importantly, it’s the value of his character, his integrity, and his ability to unite those around him to succeed in a team environment.”
Edwin Jackson, The Players Alliance Founding Member and World Series Champion
“As Dr. Northcutt leads The Players Alliance as Executive Director & CEO, he will authentically connect with players, align strategically with league executives, engage donors with purpose, and uplift communities. His genuine, relationship-driven approach positions him to build trust quickly and create meaningful, lasting impact across the organization and baseball and softball ecosystems.”
About the Players Alliance
The Players Alliance is a nonprofit organization comprised of current and former professional baseball players aiming to make the game more accessible through increased representation. The organization’s mission is to address baseball’s systemic barriers by creating pathways to opportunities on and off the field through a variety of programs built around participation in baseball and softball, mentorship, professional baseball employee development, educational grants, and service opportunities across all communities.
Media Contact
info@playersalliance.org or cmann@cmsprconsulting.com
