Humanoid 3.0
04-30-2025, 2:11pm
Father Of Ex-NJ High School Football Star Fined After Sanders Draft Prank Call
The call occurred after Jax Ulbrich, the son of Falcons Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, got Sanders' draft number off an open iPad.
CHATHAM, NJ — The Atlanta Falcons and Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich have been fined by the NFL following a prank call to quarterback Shedeur Sanders that occurred after Ulbrich’s son, former Chatham High School running back Jax Ulbrich, got Sanders’ draft phone number.
On Wednesday, the NFL announced that the Atlanta Falcons were fined $250,000 and Jeff Ulbrich was fined $100,000 for their involvement in the prank call.
According to Ian Rapoport, a national insider for NFL Network and NFL.com, the fines were issued “for failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL draft.”
In a statement from the Falcons, the organization said they appreciate the NFL’s review of the data exposure and the call that transpired because of it.
"We were proactive in addressing the situation internally and cooperated fully with the league throughout the process, and accept the discipline levied to Coach Jeff Ulbrich and the organization,” the statement said.
“We are confident in our security policies and practices and will continue to emphasize adherence to them with our staff, whether on or off premises,” the statement continued. “Additionally, the Ulbrich family is working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives in relation to last week's matter."
The prank phone call occurred after Jeff Ulbrich’s son, Jax Ulbrich, got Sanders’ draft contact number off an open iPad while visiting his parent’s home, the Falcons said in a previous statement.
Ulbrich then wrote the number down to later conduct the prank call, where a person next to Ulbrich identified himself as Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis and told Sanders they were going to choose him as their next draft pick before saying, “You’re gonna have to wait a little bit longer,” and hanging up.
The call followed a slide for Sanders throughout the draft, where he went from being regarded as a potential first-round pick to later being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.
According to the Falcons, Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the date exposure or the call at the time, and was only made aware after the fact.
In a statement posted on Sunday, Jax Ulbrich referred to the call as a “tremendous mistake” and apologized to Sanders.
“Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful,” Ulbrich said. “I’m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish. 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.”
Ulbrich went on to thank Sanders for accepting a call from him earlier that day, and said he hopes he can find it in his heart to forgive him.
The call occurred after Jax Ulbrich, the son of Falcons Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, got Sanders' draft number off an open iPad.
CHATHAM, NJ — The Atlanta Falcons and Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich have been fined by the NFL following a prank call to quarterback Shedeur Sanders that occurred after Ulbrich’s son, former Chatham High School running back Jax Ulbrich, got Sanders’ draft phone number.
On Wednesday, the NFL announced that the Atlanta Falcons were fined $250,000 and Jeff Ulbrich was fined $100,000 for their involvement in the prank call.
According to Ian Rapoport, a national insider for NFL Network and NFL.com, the fines were issued “for failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL draft.”
In a statement from the Falcons, the organization said they appreciate the NFL’s review of the data exposure and the call that transpired because of it.
"We were proactive in addressing the situation internally and cooperated fully with the league throughout the process, and accept the discipline levied to Coach Jeff Ulbrich and the organization,” the statement said.
“We are confident in our security policies and practices and will continue to emphasize adherence to them with our staff, whether on or off premises,” the statement continued. “Additionally, the Ulbrich family is working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives in relation to last week's matter."
The prank phone call occurred after Jeff Ulbrich’s son, Jax Ulbrich, got Sanders’ draft contact number off an open iPad while visiting his parent’s home, the Falcons said in a previous statement.
Ulbrich then wrote the number down to later conduct the prank call, where a person next to Ulbrich identified himself as Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis and told Sanders they were going to choose him as their next draft pick before saying, “You’re gonna have to wait a little bit longer,” and hanging up.
The call followed a slide for Sanders throughout the draft, where he went from being regarded as a potential first-round pick to later being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.
According to the Falcons, Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the date exposure or the call at the time, and was only made aware after the fact.
In a statement posted on Sunday, Jax Ulbrich referred to the call as a “tremendous mistake” and apologized to Sanders.
“Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful,” Ulbrich said. “I’m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish. 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.”
Ulbrich went on to thank Sanders for accepting a call from him earlier that day, and said he hopes he can find it in his heart to forgive him.