On November 16, as Shedeur Sanders took the field for his NFL debut with the Cleveland Browns, an unsettling incident unfolded at his residence. Reports indicate that his home was burglarized during the game.
Details surrounding the break-in remain sparse; it is currently unknown if any items were stolen, and authorities have yet to identify any suspects, according to sources.
The Browns faced a defeat against the Baltimore Ravens, ending the game at 23-16. Sanders, stepping in for starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel—who was sidelined due to concussion protocol—entered the game in the second half. His performance was challenging, completing just four of 16 passes, resulting in one interception and two sacks.
Despite the rocky start to his professional career, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Sanders would be the starting quarterback for the upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 23, should Gabriel remain unavailable.
This burglary incident adds to a troubling pattern affecting professional athletes. Last December, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow experienced a similar violation when his home was broken into during a Monday Night Football game. At the time, his girlfriend reported a shattered window and a ransacked room upon police arrival.
Burrow expressed his feelings of violation, stating, “I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one.” He elaborated on the challenges of living a public life, acknowledging the difficulties that come with it.
Other NFL stars have also faced similar predicaments. Kansas City Chiefs players Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes were victims of burglaries last season, with Kelce reporting a loss of $20,000 in cash from his home on the same day the Chiefs secured a victory over the New Orleans Saints.
The trend extended into the NBA when former Dallas Mavericks player Luka Doncic reported a theft of $30,000 worth of jewelry from his residence shortly thereafter.
In light of these incidents, former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III urged the league to enhance security measures for players’ homes. “The NFL has the power to do it,” he stated, emphasizing the need for better protection for players and their families.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers highlighted existing initiatives within the NFL, mentioning that security experts are available to assist players in installing protective measures at their homes. “It’s something that we all think about from time to time,” he remarked, acknowledging the vulnerability athletes face.
