Thousands of NFL player medical records stolen from Redskins trainer
Your teams on the go or at home. Personalize SI with our new App. Install on iOS or Android.
The NFL Players Association has alerted its members that several thousand medical records belonging to NFL players were stolen from a car belonging to a Washington Redskins trainer, according to Barry Petchesky of Deadpspin.
The notification was sent by NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith on May 27.
In April, a thief broke into the trainer’s car and stole a password-protected, unencrypted laptop with electronic versions of medical exams from NFL combine participants from 2004 to 2016. The laptop also contained records for current NFL players. More information was also snatched from a zip drive that was taken. The backpack also contained paper copies of combine medical exams.
The NFL would be held responsible for the protection of the documents and player information. The combine is operated by an independent company, but is considered a league event.
• PIERCE: Corruption is now a central part of the NFL’s identity
The NFL responded to Deadspin's report with a statement that said there was no evidence that the thief was able to access any information, or that the data was made public.
“Once we became aware of the theft, we promptly worked with the club and the NFLPA to identify the scope of the issue. The club is taking all appropriate steps to notify any person whose information is potentially at risk. As the NFLPA memo confirms, the theft of data involves information maintained by one club and no information maintained by any club on the NFL Electronic Medical Records system was compromised and the theft is entirely unrelated to that system.”
The Redskins also said there is no evidence that shows the thief had access to any information.
