Why the Philadelphia Eagles Lead the NFL in Password Choices—and Why That’s a Security Problem

When it comes to creating passwords, many people turn to their passions. Unfortunately, that often means using a favorite sports team—and the NFL Eagles password phenomenon is a prime example. According to data from password manager provider RoboForm, the Philadelphia Eagles are the most common NFL team used in passwords, based on an analysis of ten million leaked credentials. This trend highlights a broader security issue: sports team passwords are predictable and easy to crack.

The NFL Eagles Password Trend: A Closer Look

RoboForm’s research found that the Philadelphia Eagles top the list, followed by the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Oakland Raiders. Interestingly, the most popular teams in terms of fandom—like the Green Bay Packers—ranked lower in password usage, coming in seventh. This suggests that fan loyalty doesn’t always align with password popularity. However, the NFL Eagles password trend is a red flag for security experts.

Why Sports Teams Make Weak Passwords

Security consultant Tracy Maleeff from Sherpa Intelligence, a self-proclaimed Eagles fan, admitted that while she feels pride in seeing her team at number one, she recognizes the danger. “Then, I remember that I’m supposed to be an information security professional and know that I have a lot of awareness work to do here in the Philadelphia area,” she said. She recalled a past job where an assistant guessed her password by humming the Eagles fight song. This illustrates how easily attackers can exploit such predictable choices.

Lawrence Munro, senior director of SpiderLabs EMEA at Trustwave, echoed this concern. “Unfortunately it’s not at all surprising to find such easily identifiable password choices—we find most people pick a password based on how likely they are to remember it, rather than any consideration for security,” he said. He noted that attackers often scan social media for clues like favorite teams, making sports-related passwords particularly risky.

How Attackers Exploit Sports Team Passwords

Steve Manzuik, director of research at Duo Security, explained that in targeted attacks, adversaries gather information from public sources like social media and forums. “If password or security challenge questions are based off of any information you have shared, including your favorite team, it will be considered when attempting to guess or brute force the password,” he said. This means that using an NFL Eagles password or any team name is essentially handing attackers a key.

David Yates, information security consultant at MWR InfoSecurity, added that automated guessing tools make short work of common passwords. “A human being might get bored going through a list of the top 100 football players and trying different character substitutions, but a computer won’t,” he said. He recommends using random character strings or unusual sentences of at least 20 characters for true security.

Practical Steps to Improve Your Password Security

Given the risks, it’s time to rethink your password habits. Here are actionable tips to protect your accounts:

• Use a password manager: Tools like RoboForm or 1Password generate and store complex passwords, so you don’t have to remember them.
• Avoid personal information: Steer clear of names, birthdays, and especially sports teams. Even if you love the Eagles, don’t use them as a password.
• Enable two-factor authentication: This adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password.
• Create long, random passphrases: For example, “BlueHorseJumpsOverMoon2024!” is far stronger than “Eagles123”.

The Bottom Line: Sports Fandom and Security Don’t Mix

While the Philadelphia Eagles may be champions on the password list, that’s not a title any fan should celebrate. The NFL Eagles password trend is a stark reminder that convenience often comes at the cost of security. As you gear up for the next big game, take a timeout to review your passwords. A few minutes of effort now can save you from a data breach later. For more tips on staying safe online, check out our guide on password security best practices or learn about common cybersecurity mistakes to avoid.