I believe the issue is that NFL players make the news and are "newsworthy", particularly when it comes to their hometowns and state.
The issue with the graph I posted is it does not compare a NFL players job vs other job professions. I think part of the issue is trying to find the profession of the person actually arrested who isn't a "career criminal" to begin with.
What I did find is that per the FBI, the arrest rate in the NFL is 1 in 45. The national average for non professional athletes is like 1 in 30. Did come across the fact that the NBA actually has a higher arrest record than the NFL, and found somewhat surprising that professional hockey players have the lowest arrest percentage in pro sports, and some people will claim that's because there are fewer black people playing in hockey. Although a comment like that could be taken as factual, the reality is there is more of a "cause and affect" due to environment as the person grows from childhood into adulthood.
What I did find interesting is serial killers professions
- Top 3 Skilled Serial-Killer Occupations: 1. Aircraft machinist/assembler; 2. Shoemaker/repair person; 3. Automobile upholsterer
- Top 3 Semi-Skilled Serial Killer Occupations: 1. Forestry worker/arborist; 2. Truck driver; 3. Warehouse manager
- Top 3 Unskilled Serial Killer Occupations: 1. General laborer (mover, landscaper, et. al.); 2. Hotel porter; 3. Gas station attendant
- Top 3 Professional/Government Serial Killer Occupations: 1. Police/security official; 2. Military personnel; 3. Religious official
At least no professional sports were mentioned for serial killers
Thing is when talking looking at recidivism rates, it made me think. I can't prove it, but in some ways I think prision becomes more like the miltary for unemployed men who forwhatever reason couldn't find work before or after prision life (and lets face it, finding work with a prison record is hard).