ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have been fined $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been fined $100,000 due to a prank call involving Ulbrich’s son, Jax, to NFL draft prospect Shedeur Sanders. The NFL confirmed the fines on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, highlighting the Falcons’ failure to prevent the disclosure of confidential information prior to the draft.
The incident occurred as Sanders was waiting for his name to be called during the draft. The Falcons disclosed that 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich unintentionally accessed the draft contact phone number for Sanders from an open iPad while visiting his parents' home. He later wrote down the number to conduct a prank call. The team accepted the league's discipline and expressed appreciation for the NFL’s prompt investigation.
“We appreciate the NFL’s swift and thorough review of last week’s data exposure and the event that transpired due to it,” the Falcons stated. “We were proactive in addressing the situation internally and cooperated fully with the league throughout the process, and accept the discipline levied to Coach Jeff Ulbrich and the organization. We are confident in our security policies and practices and will continue to emphasize adherence to them with our staff whether on or off premises.”
In a separate statement released on April 27, 2025, the Falcons explained how Jax Ulbrich came across the confidential number. The prank call occurred on Friday, April 25, the second day of the draft, with Jax sitting beside an unidentified friend who actually made the call to Sanders.
Sanders, a standout quarterback from Colorado and son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, was selected in the fifth round of the draft by the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Before his selection, a video surfaced on social media showing Sanders receiving a call from someone impersonating New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. The caller told Sanders, “We’re going to take you with our next pick, man, but you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that.” A confused Sanders turned to his friends at the draft party, asking, “What does that mean?”
After the incident, Jax Ulbrich took to social media to express remorse, stating that what he did was “completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful.” He mentioned that Sanders accepted his apology during a previous call. The Falcons did not take any disciplinary action against Jeff Ulbrich, who was reportedly unaware of the data breach or the prank until after it had occurred.
“I think, of course, it is childish,” Sanders later told reporters regarding the prank. “Of course, I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody does childish things here and there.”
The NFL is continuing its investigation into prank calls made to other players during the draft. Reports indicated that Tyler Warren, Kyle McCord, Mason Graham, and Chase Lundt also received prank calls, although the call to Shedeur Sanders was not connected to these other incidents.
The Falcons have stated that the Ulbrich family is working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives related to the matter. The team has emphasized the importance of maintaining confidentiality and security regarding sensitive information, particularly during such a pivotal time as the NFL draft.
As the NFL draft continues to be a major event in the football calendar, the fallout from this incident serves as a reminder of the need for strict adherence to privacy protocols. With the league's ongoing investigation into the prank calls, it remains to be seen if further actions will be taken against those involved.
In the end, the Atlanta Falcons are left to navigate the consequences of a prank that, while seemingly harmless, has raised serious questions about confidentiality and the responsibilities of those within the organization. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for teams and personnel alike as they prepare for future drafts.
