NFL study links players' data exposure to safety risk

Incogni has published research suggesting most NFL players have personal information available on people search sites, with higher exposure among the two teams set to play in Super Bowl LX.

The data privacy company examined how often players' details appear on sites that compile and sell access to personal records. The study looked for information such as home addresses, phone numbers, family relationships, property records, and legal histories.

Incogni analysed a sample of 960 active NFL players, selecting 30 at random from each team. Researchers scanned more than 250 people search sites and flagged players whose personal details met the company's confidence threshold for exposure.

Across the sample, 61% of players were discoverable on at least one people search site. Incogni identified 585 players whose personal details were likely accessible through such services. The analysis also suggests repeated exposure across multiple sites. Nearly 28% of players appeared on three or more people search sites, which can make it easier to locate someone or confirm details by cross-checking.

Super Bowl focus

The research includes a snapshot of the two teams competing in Super Bowl LX. Incogni estimated that 53% of Seattle players and 60% of New England players had personal data likely available on people search sites. Both figures are above the league-wide level cited in the report.

People search sites market access to aggregated public and commercial data. Some offer limited information for free, while others provide fuller records through subscriptions or low-cost trial memberships.

Incogni framed the issue as a safety concern during major sporting events that attract intense public attention and large betting volumes. It pointed to the growth of legal sports wagering in the US and said Americans were expected to legally wager USD 1.76 billion on the Super Bowl.

Harassment linked to betting outcomes has become a theme across professional sports in recent years, with athletes reporting abuse via social media and other channels. In some cases, players have increased personal security measures for themselves and their families.

The study argues that readily accessible personal information can increase risk, particularly during emotionally charged moments. It said even partial data can contribute to intimidation if it allows someone to be identified, contacted directly, or located offline.

"People search sites turn fragments of public data into detailed profiles that can be misused by anyone with an internet connection," said Darius Belejevas, Head of Incogni. "When you combine that with the intensity of the Super Bowl and the scale of legal betting around it, the risk to player safety becomes much more tangible. This is not a theoretical privacy issue. It is a personal security issue."

Team variation

The findings indicate wide variation between teams. Incogni reported the Los Angeles Chargers as having the highest exposure rate in its sample, with 80% of investigated players discoverable on people search sites.

The Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Indianapolis Colts followed at 73%, based on Incogni's estimates. At the other end of the range, the Kansas City Chiefs had the lowest exposure rate at 43%.

Incogni also listed the Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers, and Baltimore Ravens at 47%. In its summary figures, the company did not specify which factors drove differences between teams, such as geography, property ownership patterns, or the availability of public records.

Method and limits

The research is based on a sample rather than a full census of all NFL players. It also reflects what was discoverable during the data-collection period and what met the company's exposure threshold.

People search listings can vary in accuracy, and individuals can share names, which can complicate matching. Incogni said it used a confidence-based approach to identify likely exposures, but did not provide detailed criteria in the summary.

Incogni also noted that NFL players were less exposed than some other high-profile groups it has studied. It said athletes' public profiles still increase the potential impact when personal information appears online.

Incogni operates a service that seeks the removal of personal information from data brokers and people search sites. The company stated that the wider problem sits at the intersection of public records, commercial data collection, and the growth of online directories that package personal details for search and sale.

Darius Belejevas, Head of Incogni, said the risk profile changes around major events involving heightened attention and financial stakes; he described the issue as extending beyond privacy to physical security.