In a surprising turn of events during the 2025 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons found themselves on the receiving end of hefty fines imposed by the league due to a prank call incident involving their defensive coordinator's son. On April 30, 2025, the NFL announced that the Falcons would be fined $250,000 while defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich would face a $100,000 penalty. The fines were a direct result of Ulbrich's son, Jax, prank calling rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders as he awaited news of his draft selection.
The incident occurred on April 25, 2025, during the second day of the draft when Jax Ulbrich, 21, used his father's open iPad to obtain Sanders' phone number. He then collaborated with a friend to call Sanders, pretending to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, and informed him that he would be drafted by the Saints with their next pick. However, Sanders quickly recognized the ruse and expressed his confusion about the call, stating, "Nobody has that number but coaches, strictly for that reason." This prank raised eyebrows within the NFL, leading to an investigation and ultimately the fines.
In a statement following the announcement of the penalties, the Falcons expressed their appreciation for the NFL's thorough review of the situation. They 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." Additionally, the Ulbrich family is working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives related to the incident.
Jax Ulbrich took to social media to apologize for his actions, admitting in an Instagram post that what he did was "completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful." He elaborated, "I’m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish. I could never imagine getting ready to celebrate one of the greatest moments of your life and I made a terrible mistake and messed with that moment. Thank you for accepting my call earlier today, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." His heartfelt apology was directed at Sanders, who had been expected to be selected much earlier in the draft.
Despite the prank's unfortunate timing, Shedeur Sanders maintained a positive outlook. After being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, he remarked, "It didn’t really have an impact on me, because it was just like, I mean, OK, like I don’t feed into negativity, or I don’t feed into that stuff. Of course, I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody does childish things here and there." Sanders, the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, had to wait longer than anticipated to hear his name called, as he was projected to be a first- or second-round pick.
The prank call incident is not an isolated occurrence in NFL draft history. In 2024, Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean was also pranked during the draft. This year, other prospects like Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren and quarterback Kyle McCord received similar prank calls, although the NFL believes those incidents are unrelated to the one involving Sanders.
As the dust settles on this unusual chapter in NFL draft lore, the Falcons are left to reflect on the importance of maintaining confidentiality and the repercussions of a lapse in security. The league's decision to impose fines underscores the seriousness of the situation, and the Falcons are now tasked with reinforcing their policies to prevent such breaches in the future.
In conclusion, while the prank call may have provided a moment of levity, it also highlighted the challenges teams face in safeguarding sensitive information during one of the most scrutinized events in professional sports. The NFL's swift response serves as a reminder that even in the world of sports, actions have consequences, and the integrity of the draft process must be upheld.
