• Home
  • News
  • Coins2Day 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Tech

NFL Twitter Account Is the Latest Big Name Victim of Hackers

By
Aaron Pressman
Aaron Pressman
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Aaron Pressman
Aaron Pressman
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 7, 2016, 2:10 PM ET
False tweet on NFL account
Screenshot of hacked NFL tweet, since deleted.Aaron Pressman

Football fans who follow the NFL’s Twitter account got a jolt on Tuesday afternoon thanks to an unknown hacker.

“We regret to inform our fans that our commissioner, Roger Goodell, has passed away. He was 57. #RIP,” read the unauthorized—and untrue—message that appeared on the official NFL Twitter account, which is followed by more than 19 million people.

The tweet was quickly pulled down though the hacker posted several more retorts before being locked out. The NFL didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

False tweet on NFL account

The league responded to CNBC. “We have engaged law enforcement to look into the matter,” CNBC reported that the NFL said. “We are reviewing and strengthening our cyber-security measures.”

The embarrassment is just the latest Twitter (TWTR) hack of a highly followed account. Such break-ins typically result from a hacker simply guessing the password to an account, not any weakness in Twitter’s security systems.

Get Data Sheet, Coins2Day’s technology newsletter.

Facebook (FB) CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s twitter and Pinterest accounts were hacked recently because the Harvard drop out had reused the same password on those sites and LinkedIn (LNKD), itself the subject of a hacker attack that resulted in 100 million stolen user names and passwords.

Also hit recently were Twitter accounts of pop star Katy Perry and celebrity Kylie Jenner. Other noted Twitter hacks have included 2013 attacks on Jeep (FCAU) and Burger King (BKW) that included racially offensive posts.

About the Author
By Aaron Pressman
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Coins2Day 500
  • Global 500
  • Coins2Day 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Coins2Day Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Coins2Day Brand Studio
  • Coins2Day Analytics
  • Coins2Day Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Coins2Day
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Coins2Day Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Coins2Day Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.