The excitement of NFL draft night turned to disbelief when quarterback Shedeur Sanders fell victim to a prank call that disrupted his life-changing moment and triggered an NFL investigation.
At a Glance
- Shedeur Sanders received a fake draft call from someone posing as Saints GM.
- The prank was carried out by the son of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
- Sanders was eventually drafted in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns.
- Browns coach Kevin Stefanski called the prank “moronic” and “sad.”
- The Falcons issued a formal apology and pledged cooperation with the NFL.
Prank Call Disrupts Sanders’ Big Night
The University of Colorado star quarterback waited eagerly for his NFL future to be sealed when his phone rang. A voice, claiming to be New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis, told Sanders he would be picked shortly. Elated, Sanders waited through the second, third, and fourth rounds—only to realize the call was a hoax.
Watch USA Today’s full report on the prank call scandal.
The prankster was revealed to be 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich, son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who accessed Sanders’ private number from an unsecured iPad.
NFL Investigates as Apologies Roll In
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski did not mince words, slamming the prank as both “moronic” and “sad,” according to New York Post.
Meanwhile, Sanders handled the situation with remarkable composure, telling Deion Sanders Jr.’s YouTube channel, “Of course I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody does childish things here and there.” His poise under pressure only deepened admiration for the young quarterback, even as debates swirled around why he had fallen so far in the draft.
Falcons Scramble to Contain Fallout
The Atlanta Falcons released a formal apology to the Sanders family, as detailed by USA Today. They confirmed Jax Ulbrich acted independently without his father’s knowledge and vowed to cooperate fully with the NFL’s ongoing investigation.
“The Atlanta Falcons do not condone this behavior,” the team stated, emphasizing that a direct apology from Jax to Sanders had been arranged.
League officials are now reviewing the incident, focusing on safeguarding players’ private information and preventing future breaches during pivotal career moments.
Moving Forward After the Chaos
Though the prank marred Sanders’ draft night, his resilience and professionalism suggest a promising start to his NFL journey—and a cautionary tale for the league on the importance of player security.
