Despite being a legendary program, there have been only 2 quarterbacks from LSU who have won the Heisman. Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels. But only one of them has had their house robbed recently. For many, former LSU QB Joe Burrow’s Saturday message on the security of the Heisman could be a purely humorous take. But for the QB, it’s a mixed feeling after his firsthand experience of burglary just two years ago.

“I have it locked up in a safe place for all you robbers out there who are getting any ideas.” He said it while sitting near the trophy at Fanatics Fest in New York, in a clip USA Today’s Arye Pulli shared on July 18.

Burrow, who won the Heisman in 2019, leading LSU to an undefeated season, is really concerned about the security of the trophy. That concern comes from a real break-in. In December 2024, while Burrow was in Dallas playing the Bengals, intruders entered his Anderson Township, Ohio home. An AP report said valuables worth about $300,000 were taken.

The list included high-end watches, glasses, and jewelry. Also gone were his “JB9” Swagger pendant and a necklace bearing his name and LSU jersey number. The Bengals QB shared his feelings, saying, “Privacy has been violated in more ways than one. Way more is out there than I would want out there and that I care to share. So that’s all I’ve got to say about that.”

Three men were later charged in connection with the burglary and are in plea bargaining talks with federal prosecutors, according to a court filing in November 2025. Investigators say the break-in matches a wider trend of athletes being hit while they are away for games. That experience still sits with Burrow, and it helps explain why he turned a light joke about the Heisman into a clear warning.

The Heisman represents his legacy in Baton Rouge. In the season he won it, he threw for 5,671 yards and carried the Tigers to a national title. That run defined his time at LSU and still shapes how he sees the trophy today. That legendary performance helped him get selected as the top overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft by Cincinnati.

In 2025, a toe injury limited him to eight games, and Cincinnati’s hopes took a hit as a result. This season, amid the mounting pressure to lead the Bengals to a successful year, such a humorous take could be his way to remain light. But when he is busy again chasing success for the Bengals, will his Heisman still be safe?

Other stars have faced the same fear

Joe Burrow isn’t the only one who has faced such an incidence of robbery. Just recently, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley also fell victim to such a crime.

On July 18, Barkley faced a break-in at his Malvern home, as per a police report obtained by Fox News Digital. Suspects have not been arrested yet. But as per the report, the RB’s family members are safe. What he lost is still unclear, as the investigation continues.

According to the investigator, a white SUV could help track the suspects. Police have already started to seek public help for identification following the release of a picture of the car. But they haven’t found any clues yet. With the progress of the investigation, they may yet find more clues, but break-ins like this keep happening to pro athletes.

During October 2024, Patrick Mahomes had a break in at his Missouri mansion around midnight. Just two days after the hit on Mahomes, thieves broke into Travis Kelce’s Leawood, Kansas estate, allegedly stealing $20,000 in cash.

On November 16, 2025, former Colorado star and Cleveland Browns quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, had his home broken into by three masked intruders. Approximately $200,000 in property was stolen from his home in Granger Township, which is a suburban area of Cleveland. This was planned during the time he was making his NFL debut against the Ravens in Week 11 of the NFL season.

There is a specific level of risk that exists for such athletes as a lot of them can come from backgrounds that are not very wealthy to begin with. But the sudden fame and money can make them targets within their own community and area. It takes time to isolate away from anti social elements of society who can see your home as an easy target since these players have to be away for certain periods at a time during the season.

Modern security systems would help slow down the incidents. But as long as football players and their wealth are so publicly discussed and acknowledged, their houses and families will be at a higher risk than other individuals in the same tax bracket.