The NFL has imposed significant fines on the Atlanta Falcons and their defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich, following a prank call incident targeting quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft. The Falcons were fined $250,000, and Ulbrich personally received a $100,000 fine for failing to secure confidential draft information that was misused by his son, Jax Ulbrich.
The Prank Call Incident
During the second night of the draft, Jax Ulbrich, 21, impersonated New Orleans Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis in a prank call to Sanders. The call falsely informed Sanders that the Saints intended to draft him, only to retract the statement moments later. This occurred while Sanders was awaiting selection, ultimately being picked by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round at No. 144 overall.
The prank was facilitated by Jax accessing Sanders’ private contact information from an open iPad at his father’s home. A video of the incident went viral, prompting widespread criticism and an NFL investigation.
NFL’s Response and Falcons’ Accountability
The NFL determined that the Falcons failed to adequately protect confidential draft materials, leading to the unauthorized access and misuse of Sanders’ contact information. Although Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the prank at the time, the league held him accountable for the security lapse. The Falcons accepted the penalties and have committed to reinforcing their data security policies.
Apologies and Aftermath
Jax Ulbrich issued a public apology, expressing deep remorse for his actions and acknowledging the inappropriateness of interfering with a pivotal moment in Sanders’ career . The Falcons also extended apologies to Sanders and his family, emphasizing their disapproval of the behavior and their commitment to preventing similar incidents in the future.
This incident has raised concerns about the security of personal information during the draft process and the potential impact of such pranks on players’ careers. The NFL is reportedly investigating other unrelated prank calls made to draft prospects during the same period.
As the league continues to address these issues, the Falcons and the Ulbrich family plan to engage in community service initiatives as part of their efforts to make amends for the incident.
