Photo: Getty Images
The Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich were both fined in relation to Ulbrich's son, Jax, and a friend prank calling Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft," NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Wednesday (April 30).
"Prank call fallout: The NFL fined the #Falcons $250,000 and DC Jeff Ulbrich $100,000 over the leak of Shedeur Sanders’ phone number. Ulbrich’s son, Jax, took the number from Ulbrich’s iPad and used it to prank Sanders during the draft. Jax has apologized," Pelissero wrote on his X account.
Jax Ulbrich, 21, issued a public apology after a viral video showed him alongside a friend who called Sanders while pretending to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis on Night Two of the 2025 NFL Draft.
"On Friday night I made a tremendous mistake. Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful," Ulbrich wrote in a statement shared on his Instagram. "I'm so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish," Jax Ulbrich wrote in the apology. "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."
The Falcons, who Shedeur's father and former coach, Deion Sanders, played for during the first five seasons of his Pro Football Hall of Fame career, also shared a statement regarding the incident.
"The Atlanta Falcons do not condone this behavior and send our sincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family, who we have been in contact with to apologize to, as well as facilitate an apology directly from Jax to the Sanders family," the team wrote in the statement.
A viral video showed Ulbrich's friend calling Sanders as Loomis during the second-round of the 2025 NFL Draft just before the Saints used the No. 40 overall pick on Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough. The caller initially acted as if New Orleans was going to take Sanders before telling him, "you're going to have to wait a little longer, man, sorry about that" and hanging up.
A video shared by Well Off Media -- a production company owned by Shedeur's brother Deion Sanders Jr. -- included the quarterback's reaction to the call and a confused response of, "what does that mean?" Sanders, who was initially projected by many to be a first-round prospect, fell several rounds before being selected by the Browns at No. 144 overall on Saturday (April 26), two rounds after the Browns had already selected former Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel at No. 94 overall.