This Sunday, millions of Americans will gather for the Super Bowl.  The rituals are familiar: wings on the table, friends on the couch, and a shared bond for one team. For most households, game day is about connection. But for many, it carries risks that rarely make the postgame show.

Last month, a tragedy in Florida brought this reality into sharp focus. An argument over a football game escalated into lethal violence, leaving a woman dead, her daughter critically injured, and a family shattered. This disturbing story drew national media attention, demonstrating how stress, control, and violence can collide inside the home. In these circumstances, something mundane like changing the channel from a football game can be the trigger for a domestic dispute or even intimate partner homicide.

For years, Super Bowl Sunday has been labeled the most dangerous day of the year for domestic violence. Researchers and fact-checkers have debunked this claim, finding no evidence of a dramatic nationwide spike tied specifically to the Super Bowl itself. But clearing up that myth should not end this discussion. It should refocus it. Make no mistake, there is a clear link between sporting events and family violence.  Understanding it could make the difference for someone at risk of intimate partner violence.

What the research actually shows is straightforward. Family violence, including intimate partner violence, is a year-round and deeply underreported public health crisis. A landmark study published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics found that reports of intimate partner violence increase by about 10 percent after an unexpected loss by a local NFL team, a pattern linked to emotional stress, alcohol use, and gambling losses. To be clear, football is not the underlying cause for this violence—but it can trigger it.

Newer studies from 2024 and 2025 show the same pattern, with sharper increases in violence in states where sports betting and financial losses raise the stakes. Whether the game is played on a football field or a soccer pitch, the dynamics are the same. International research from late 2024, including reports from Leeds Domestic Violence Service during Euro 2024, found a rise in domestic abuse following national-team losses. The issue is not one league or one Super Bowl Sunday, but the predictable moment when stress, money, alcohol, and power collide.

Arguing over which game day is “most dangerous” misses the point. Family violence does not start at kickoff or end with the final whistle. It happens every day, often behind closed doors. National Crime Victimization Survey data show that fewer than half of survivors report violence, meaning official numbers consistently understate the problem. By the time you finish reading this piece, 120 people in the United States will be impacted by intimate partner violence. By the end of the day, three women will be killed an intimate partner.

For violence prevention, as in sports, an active defense is just as important as a strong offense. Recognizing warning signs early can change outcomes. These include disproportionate anger, controlling behavior, verbal threats, intimidation, and fear that lingers long after the noise of the game fades. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, these behaviors rarely appear in isolation and often escalate during moments of stress.

I lead an organization that works with families affected by violence every day. One thing is clear: violence is not seasonal. It does not wait for championship games or headline moment, it can happen at any time and be triggered by any situation. Prevention cannot be a once-a-year conversation. It requires consistency, accountability, and access to support.

This Sunday, people can enjoy the game and still look out for one another. Whether you’re cheering for the Patriots or the Seahawks, check in on a neighbor, pay attention to warning signs, and share resources that make a real difference for someone experiencing violence.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing family violence, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24 hours a day at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), with confidential chat support at TheHotline.org.

Violence against family members is never part of the game. Safety, dignity, and support should be part of every community, every day of the year.