CINCINNATI, OH — While Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was battling the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, a different kind of fight unfolded at his home in Ohio. Burrow’s Anderson Township residence was burglarized while he was on the field, marking yet another incident in a troubling trend of professional athletes being targeted during away games.
Authorities with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Burrow's home after a 911 call reported a break-in. The call came from the mother of a 22-year-old woman employed by Burrow, who had discovered the crime scene upon arriving at the residence. The police report states that the woman found a shattered bedroom window and the room ransacked. Fearing for her safety, she immediately contacted her mother, who then alerted authorities.
“Someone is trying to break into the house right now. My daughter is there,” the caller said during the 911 call, obtained by NBC affiliate WLWT-TV. “This is Joe Burrow’s house. He’s at the football game. She’s wondering what she should do, if she should be hiding, or if she should go outside.” The audio captures the anxiety of the moment as the employee communicates with an on-site security officer.
Deputies responding to the scene noted a broken rear bedroom window and began canvassing neighbors for surveillance footage that could provide clues about the intruders. An initial inventory of missing items was given, though details remain sparse.
A Disturbing Trend of Targeting Athletes
Burrow's burglary is not an isolated event. Just two months ago, Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce faced similar incidents. Mahomes’ sprawling estate in Belton, Missouri, was burglarized in early October. Less than 48 hours later, during a Chiefs game against the New Orleans Saints, Kelce’s home was also targeted, with $20,000 in valuables stolen and evidence of forced entry through a rear door.
In a related case, Milwaukee Bucks star Bobby Portis Jr. recently revealed that his home was invaded, with thieves making off with many of his prized possessions. Portis has since offered a $40,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of his stolen items.
Minnesota Timberwolves player Mike Conley was also victimized in September when his home in Medina, Minnesota, was burglarized.
NFL Responds to Growing Security Concerns
The rising number of targeted burglaries has prompted the NFL to issue a memo to all 32 teams, their security directors, and the players' union. The memo warns of organized crime groups specifically targeting professional athletes and outlines strategies these perpetrators use, including monitoring players' schedules and social media posts. The league strongly recommends that players:
- Delay sharing location updates on social media until after leaving a place.
- Invest in advanced security systems.
- Employ on-site security during away games.
Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, took the warning seriously and ramped up security at his own home. In a public statement, he warned potential intruders that his security detail is armed and ready.
The Need for Smarter Security
These incidents underscore a harsh reality for professional athletes: their high profiles make them vulnerable targets. As players focus on their careers, safeguarding their homes and families has become an increasingly urgent priority.
For Joe Burrow and many others, these break-ins are more than just theft—they are invasions of privacy and safety. In a world where physical security threats are evolving, it’s clear that the measures used to protect these athletes must evolve as well.
ArcadianAI is here to help. Our open-device platform proactively secures every premise, starting at just $10/month. Let’s make security smarter, faster, and more intuitive.
Schedule a call with our security experts today and protect what matters most. Get 1:1 Demo