A Look at NFL Player Crimes

Only the fastest, strongest, biggest, and most aggressive players rise to the top to make millions as a professional in the National Football League.

A recent study addressed a question that comes to mind when there is yet another NFL player arrest in the news - is the NFL’s ‘crime epidemic’ real?

The study looked at arrest data of the general population of males between 20-39 and NFL players over 14 years. Here are the three conclusions that were drawn:
  1. Between 2000-2013, the U.S. general population of males aged 20-39 had a significantly higher total arrest rate than NFL players. In fact, these differences were about one and a half to two times higher.
  2. For both public order violations and property crimes, once again, the U.S. general population had higher arrest rates.
  3. The findings regarding violence were mixed. In six of the 14 yearly comparisons, the NFL data showed a significantly higher violent arrest rate than the U.S. general population.


Since the beginning of 2015, 33 NFL player were arrested with 25 those arrests occurred after Super Bowl XLIX on February 1, 2015 (the 'off-season' where players may have more time to themselves).

Each team is allowed to have up to a 53 player roster. With 32 teams in the NFL there are about 1,696 players currently on a team. This comes out to just under 2% of NFL players with an arrest since Jan 1, 2015. Some of those players have been arrested multiple times since January.

Arrests ranged from anything alcohol/drug related -
Bernard Piece was released by the Baltimore Ravens after being arrested for a DUI in Towson.

To animal cruelty -
Prince Shembo of the Atlanta Falcons was released from the team after being charged for aggravated animal cruelty for kicking his girlfriend’s dog, killing the dog.

To assault -
D’Qwell Jackson of the Indianapolis Colts punched a pizza delivery driver for taking his parking space. He is the player who intercepted the pass from Tom Brady which started 'Deflate Gate' scandal. (No, Deflate Gate is not mapped on SpotCrime). He still plays for Indianapolis.

To gun charges -
Andrew Quarless of the Green Bay Packers fired gunshots into the air after a violent outburst toward a group of women. He still plays for the Packers.

To multiple charges in one arrest -
Justin Cox of Kansas City Chiefs was arrested for burglary, trespassing, and domestic assault. This was his second arrest for domestic assault within a year. He was released from the Chiefs after this incident.

Most incidents were violent of nature including 2 animal cruelty charges, 3 gun related, 10 assaults - 2 of which were sexual and 5 of domestic nature. 14 were alcohol or drug related.

The most ‘arrest prone’ team in 2015? Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts. Both teams have experienced 4 arrests so far this year. The most ‘arrest prone’ position? Linebacker. Ten of the arrests led directly to release of the player.

The players aren't the only ones getting into trouble. Check out the fan-on-fan assaults from last year's NFL season and maps of crime around each NFL stadium here.

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