After the homes of Kansas City Chiefs all-stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burglarized in October, the NFL issued a memo to team security directors and the NFL Players Association in November warning of criminals targeting houses while their owners are playing in games.
That didn’t prevent the home of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow from being burglarized on Monday night while he was playing against the Dallas Cowboys in Texas.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn’t need the warning to take home security seriously.
“I have personal security just because my house had been broken into -- not necessarily my house but one of my cars,” Tagovailoa said on Wednesday. “So it’s a little too close for my comfort with my family being in the house, so we got personal security to take care of all of that. When we’re on the road, we got someone with my wife. Got someone also at the house surveying the house. So just to let that be known, they are armed, so I hope if you decide to go to my house, you think twice. …
“I wouldn’t say necessarily I would be a target, but I wouldn’t want to play the chances with my family, my kids sleeping. My wife sleeping, me sleeping at the house.”
NFL.com reported a South American crime syndicate is thought to be behind the break-ins.
The NFL’s security team suggested not posting in real time on social media, installing security systems and keeping valuables out of sight, among other recommendations.
A former Alabama All-American, Tagovailoa will be on the road for the Dolphins’ next game. Miami plays the Houston Texans at noon CST Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston.
