What the Shedeur Sanders’ Prank Call Incident Teaches Us About Device Security in the NFL—and Your Business
As NFL teams geared up for one of the most pivotal moments of the year—the NFL Draft—an off-field distraction made waves across headlines. Shedeur Sanders, quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes and son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, was reportedly the victim of prank calls after his personal phone number was leaked. The source? Allegedly, the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who gained access to an unlocked, work-issued iPad and copied the number.
While this incident may seem like locker-room antics, it underscores a much larger issue: the consequences of poor device security, even at the highest levels of professional sports.
The NFL Fumble—and the Business Lesson Behind It
In cybersecurity, there’s a golden rule: your organization is only as secure as your most vulnerable device. In this case, a team-issued iPad was left unlocked and unprotected, providing unauthorized access to sensitive data during a high-stakes moment in the NFL Draft.
This lapse in security didn’t go unnoticed. The NFL fined the Falcons $250,000 and Ulbrich himself $100,000 for “failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL Draft.” Ulbrich publicly accepted full responsibility, calling the oversight and his son’s actions “absolutely inexcusable.”
Had a basic mobile device management (MDM) policy and multi-factor authentication (MFA) solution like Duo Security been in place, this breach could have been easily prevented. Proper safeguards would have:
- Locked the device after a period of inactivity
- Required biometric or MFA access to open apps or view files
- Enabled remote monitoring and wipe capabilities
- Prevented unapproved access from non-rostered individuals
This wasn’t just a personal breach—it was a breakdown in operational security at a critical time.
What This Means for Your Business
If NFL coaches and staff can be compromised during a nationally scrutinized event like the Draft, it’s fair to ask—how secure are your devices?
As your Managed Service Provider (MSP), Louisville Geek helps businesses mitigate the exact kinds of risks that made this prank possible. Our role goes beyond IT support—we protect digital assets, intellectual property, and your company’s reputation through:
- Device enrollment and management for both company-owned and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) hardware
- Enforced MFA with Duo Security, reducing credential-based risk
- Custom security policies tailored to your organization’s needs
- Rapid incident response if an unauthorized access event occurs
Final Thoughts: Protect the Moment
Whether you’re preparing for the NFL Draft or managing a growing customer base, it’s critical to secure every device, every user, every time.
The Falcons’ mistake is a reminder to businesses of all sizes—security is a leadership responsibility, not just an IT one. Don’t wait for a headline to evaluate your security posture.
