Shedeur Sanders, former quarterback at Colorado, made headlines during the 2025 NFL draft for multiple reasons. Initially expected to be a top pick, he unexpectedly fell to the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns selected him at No. 144. On top of this, Sanders was the victim of a cruel prank, with someone impersonating a New Orleans Saints executive and telling him they were drafting him.
On Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons issued a statement explaining that the prank call came about after defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s son, Jax Ulbrich, unintentionally obtained Sanders’ phone number when his father’s iPad was left open. The 21-year-old then used the number to carry out the prank.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Falcons decided not to punish their defensive coordinator. “The Falcons will not take any action against Jeff Ulbrich,” Schefter noted, adding that the team is reviewing their protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Ulbrich, who joined the Falcons after serving as the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets from 2021 to 2024, also had a stint as interim head coach following Robert Saleh’s dismissal.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Jax Ulbrich apologized for his involvement in the prank and shared that he had personally reached out to Sanders to apologize.