ATLANTA — The fallout from a prank call during the NFL draft has resulted in substantial fines for the Atlanta Falcons and their defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich. The Falcons were penalized $250,000, while Ulbrich faces a fine of $100,000 for failing to safeguard sensitive information leading up to the draft.
The NFL announced the penalties Wednesday, highlighting the involvement of Ulbrich’s 21-year-old son, Jax, in a prank aimed at Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback from Colorado. Sanders, the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, was waiting for his name to be called during the draft when the incident occurred. The Falcons acknowledged their accountability and expressed their acceptance of the league’s disciplinary action.
In an emotional news conference, Ulbrich extended his apologies to Sanders and his family, as well as to the Falcons’ owner, Arthur Blank. “My actions were inexcusable, and so were my son’s,” Ulbrich stated. He affirmed that both he and his son are committed to learning from this episode. “We accept full responsibility, and we will not contest the fine,” Ulbrich added, promising to demonstrate improved judgment in the future.
The Falcons issued a statement commending the NFL for its prompt investigation. “We were proactive in addressing the situation and fully cooperated with the league,” the team stated, reiterating their commitment to maintaining robust security protocols regarding confidential information.
The Falcons also revealed that Jax Ulbrich had inadvertently discovered Sanders’ draft contact number on an open iPad while at home and later used it for a prank call with the assistance of a friend. This incident unfolded on the second day of the draft, just as Sanders, expected to be a high draft pick, ultimately fell to the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.
According to Ulbrich, he was unaware of the exposure of confidential information until after the prank took place. Following the incident, he reached out to the Sanders family to express his regrets. “The Sanders family was incredibly gracious in this situation,” Ulbrich remarked, acknowledging their understanding despite the circumstances.
The Falcons have since offered sincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family, with Jax Ulbrich also sharing a public apology on social media. Meanwhile, the NFL is continuing to investigate additional prank calls made to other draft prospects, although reports indicate that Sanders’ situation was not linked to these other incidents.
Several other players, including Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren, have reported receiving similar prank calls during the draft period, prompting the league’s broader inquiry into the matter. The Atlanta Falcons’ case serves as a reminder of the importance of confidentiality and professionalism in the high-stakes environment of the NFL draft.