MORRISTOWN, NJ — The man who robbed a pro football player at gunpoint in Morristown has been sentenced to prison, prosecutors say.
Noah Shaffer, 26, of Paterson, accepted a plea deal last month to one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit theft in connection with a 2025 robbery.
On Friday, a judge sentenced Shaffer to five years in prison for the armed robbery. He also must pay $3,000 in restitution and is ordered to have no contact with the victims once released.
Background
On Feb. 15, 2025, around 8 a.m., police were called to a Morristown residence on reports of an armed robbery.
A victim only identified by police as J.S., who was playing football for the New York Jets at the time, said he and his friends were returning from New York City when they pulled into their driveway.
At that point, a Volkswagen Taos with stolen plates blocked the driveway, and four masked gunmen exited the car, police said.
Pointing their guns at J.S. and his driver (M.A.), the masked men yelled "give me everything you have" and "don't be stupid" before taking J.S.'s $10,000 watch and his wallet, as well as $400 cash from M.A.
The four men then jumped back into the Volkswagen and drove off. No injuries were reported.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage in and around the NYC clubs that J.S. and his friends were in the night before the robbery.
Footage showed that the Volkswagen had been following J.S. and his crew as early as 2:30 a.m., around six hours before the robbery, according to the affidavit. Footage also showed the Volkswagen parked outside the clubs waiting for J.S. to leave.
It was around 7:40 a.m. that morning, minutes before the robbery, when automatic license plate readers showed J.S.'s car traveling from New York City over the George Washington Bridge. Footage shows the suspect Volkswagen close behind, police records read.
According to the affidavit, phone records indicated that several phone calls were made in the area at the time. Further investigation revealed that these calls were made by a phone registered to Shaffer.
A search warrant was executed on Shaffer's cell phone, and phone record evidence indicated that he was involved in the robbery, the affidavit reads.
Shaffer was initially charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Authorities have not announced whether any of the other actors have been arrested or are being investigated.
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