Remember when Aaron Rodgers turned on his unfiltered mode and called out players for not paying attention to their home security? “Guys in general just don’t use it because they don’t have the time or they’re thinking about other things. Or they’re busy playing video games or whatever it is,” he said. He caught the heat and all but we won’t get into that because it isn’t about him. It’s about Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Joe Burrow—three superstars who found themselves on the wrong end of a disturbing trend: high-profile home burglaries.

Think about it. You’re out there throwing touchdowns, making plays, leading your team—then you come home, and someone’s been rifling through your stuff. That’s the nightmare Mahomes, Kelce, and Burrow lived through. But this week, justice finally caught up. Federal prosecutors just charged seven men for burglarizing the homes of several professional athletes, including the 3 ballers.

The details? Straight out of a heist movie. According to the criminal complaint unsealed in Tampa, authorities charged the suspects with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. Sounds complicated, but here’s the bottom line: if convicted, they’re looking at up to 10 years in prison.

And get this—the seven men, aged 20 to 38, are all from Chile and are allegedly part of a South American theft group. We’re talking about a ring that reportedly stole $2 million worth of valuables from these NFL stars. Insane, right? This was a full-blown operation targeting some of the biggest names in sports. Mahomes, Kelce, Burrow—these guys have dodged blitzes from elite pass rushers, but even they couldn’t escape this one.

In addition to that, let’s put it straight that it wasn’t just NFL players getting hit. NBA stars found themselves in the same mess. The criminal complaint read that the burglars robbed an unnamed “Memphis Grizzlies player’s home” while his team was playing a game. Then the same thing happened to a Milwaukee Bucks during a home game. These thieves had a system—they struck when players were busy breaking the opposition.

Now, after months of uncertainty, Mahomes, Kelce, and Burrow, and all the others, can breathe a little easier. But it raises a bigger question—who’s next? If this crew could pull off heists on some of the most high-profile athletes in the world, how many others are still out there waiting for their shot?

Patrick Mahomes has tied the loose ends… but what about protecting players?

As a fan, it’s frustrating. We watch these guys put everything on the line—battered, bruised, playing through injuries—just to entertain us. And yet, when they step off the field, they’re still being targeted. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow—some of the biggest names in football and basketball—got their homes burglarized while they were out doing their jobs. They’re in the middle of a season, focused on winning, but with a fear of getting robbed always running in the back of their minds. That’s beyond football. That’s personal.

The NFL has responded, but is it enough? They sent out a memo warning players about “organized and skilled groups” tracking them through social media and public records. They urged players to avoid posting their locations, expensive items, or home interiors. That’s a start. But it almost feels like we’re telling them, “Hey, just be careful,” rather than actually fixing the problem. The FBI is involved, which shows how serious this is, but shouldn’t the league already have a system in place to prevent this from happening in the first place?

Aaron Rodgers admitted he’s leaned on the NFL’s security resources in the past. “The league has a really good resource… security experts can come out to your house and give you ideas about where to put cameras, where the weak spots are.” That’s great for players who ask for it, but why isn’t this mandatory? Teams invest millions in players’ physical well-being—trainers, doctors, therapists. But shouldn’t every contract come with top-tier security services automatically? Well, that’s a fan-speak. They want their favorite stars safe.

Because it’s all connected, after all. It’s a step towards mental conditioning. A step after physical conditioning. If a player is physically on the gridiron mentally elsewhere, you get a Patrick Mahomes playing in the SB LIX. And as a franchise, relying on your guy, you could not afford that.

Mahomes now has a fortress around his house after what happened. But what about the rookies? If burglars are targeting players with millions in the bank, how easy is it to go after someone on a rookie deal, making league minimum?

The league has to do better. These guys give us everything on the field. The least we can do is make sure they’re safe when they go home.