Why NFL Teams and Players Must Prioritize Digital and Social Media Security
By Judy Selby | Founder, KNKRSM – How Champions Conquer Their Digital Edge

The NFL is built on physical toughness, discipline, preparation, and execution. But off the field, today’s athletes face a different kind of opponent — one that’s invisible, relentless, and increasingly personal: digital and social media threats.

From prank calls during the NFL Draft to organized home invasions, recent incidents highlight how professional athletes are being targeted not just for their talent, but because their digital footprint leaves them vulnerable. The message is clear: elite performance demands elite security — both online and offline.

When Privacy Gets Pranked: The 2025 NFL Draft

This year’s NFL Draft brought excitement and an alarming new threat. Multiple top prospects had their private draft phone numbers leaked, leading to a wave of prank calls during what should have been the proudest moments of their lives.

As we all know, Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders received a fake call from someone impersonating Saints GM Mickey Loomis, a moment caught on video that quickly went viral. Despite being given a burner phone number known only to league insiders, Sanders’ information still got out, later traced to the son of Falcons Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who copied the number from an open iPad and made the prank call. The NFL fined the Falcons $250,000 and Ulbrich $100,000 for the data breach.

And Sanders wasn’t alone. Other prospects, including TE Tyler Warren, QB Kyle McCord, and LB Abdul Carter, also reported receiving phony calls during the draft. For many, it caused confusion and unnecessary emotional whiplash during a career-defining event.

This wasn’t just a prank; it was a violation. These players’ private information was exposed at a critical moment, illustrating how even brief lapses in data handling can have very severe, and even public, consequences.

When Home Is No Longer Safe: The Burglary Epidemic

While phone leaks made headlines, a darker threat was hitting players where they live — literally.

In October 2024, Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce had their homes burglarized during back-to-back games. Jewelry, watches, and other luxury items were stolen. Soon after, Bengals QB Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati home was broken into during a Monday Night Football game, with thieves stealing over $300,000 in valuables.

Authorities have since tied these break-ins to a South American crime syndicate specializing in “crime tourism.” According to the FBI, the group monitored players’ game schedules and social media posts to time their attacks. These weren’t random acts. They were highly coordinated operations exploiting digital breadcrumbs.

The NFL issued a league-wide security alert warning all teams that athletes are increasingly being targeted. And yet, the digital habits, and a lack of digital safety instincts, that allow these threats to persist—public travel plans, unlocked devices, oversharing—remain largely unaddressed.

The KNKR Response: How Champions Conquer Their Digital Edge

These incidents reveal a sobering truth: elite athletes, especially high-profile NFL players, are vulnerable to cyber threats that go far beyond stolen passwords. Their success, wealth, and visibility make them prime targets for hackers, scammers, and even organized crime rings.

That’s where KNKRSM comes in.

KNKR (pronounced “conquer”), powered by Selby Strategies, is built for today’s athlete. Our mission is to help champions protect their digital edge through comprehensive cybersecurity, privacy protection, and social media risk training.

We provide:

• One-on-One Digital Risk Assessments: Identify vulnerabilities in your devices, accounts,
  and public profiles, minimizing the digital footprint to just what is necessary.

• Social Media Hygiene Coaching: Learn what to share — and more importantly, what not
  to. Also, smart practices on how to interact with others — real or impersonators — on
  social media.

• Family Protection Plans: Assessments and plans to safeguard not just your data, but
  your inner circle, from digital threats.

• Cybersecurity Briefings for Teams and Agents: Understand the latest tactics used by
  scammers and stalkers targeting pro athletes.

• 24/7 Digital Incident Response Support: In the event of a breach, we’re already in your
  corner.

The Bottom Line: Digital Security Is Performance Protection

You wouldn’t walk onto the field without your helmet, so why go online without protection?

With KNKR, we believe protecting your digital life is as vital as protecting your physical one. From draft day to game day, from locker rooms to living rooms, your personal security should never be an afterthought.

If you’re an NFL player, coach, agent, or team executive, let’s talk. [email protected]
The threats are real — but so are the tools to stop them.

Let KNKR helps you maintain your digital edge.