Draft Day’s prank call to Shadeur Sanders, who went viral on social media, was created by the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbric.
The Falcons issued a statement detailing the involvement of 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich in the incident that took place on the second day of Friday’s NFL Draft. The video shows Colorado quarterback Sanders, who was eventually sliding into the fifth round and waiting for the team to be selected, received a call with his personal number. The caller pretending to Mickey Loomis, the general manager of the New Orleans Saints, told Sanders that the team will draft him on the next pick.
The Falcons said Jax Ulbrich got the Sanders draft contact phone number from an iPad that opened when he visited his parents’ house and later made a prank call using it.
The Falcons’ statement regarding the involvement of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbric’s son Jax in the weekend’s prank draft to Chedure Sanders: pic.twitter.com/pgsxurroay
– Adam Schefter (@adamschefter) April 27, 2025
“The Atlanta Falcons have not tolerated this behavior and are sending a sincere apology to Chedure Sanders and his family. We not only apologized, but also promoted a direct apology from Jax to Sanders’ family,” the team said in a statement posted on social media.
Jax Ulbrich also issued an apology in an Instagram post.
“Sedor, what I did was completely forgiven, embarrassing and shameful,” he wrote. “Sorry, I’ve escaped from your moment. It was selfish and childish. I couldn’t imagine myself ready to celebrate one of the biggest moments of your life. I made a terrible mistake and ruined the moment.
Sanders, son of Football Hall of Fame and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, was considered one of the top quarterback prospects to be drafted, but was not selected until the Cleveland Browns’ fifth time.
On the prank call, Sanders was told:
The caller then hung up the phone and told the confused Sanders to the draft party people, “What does that mean?”
Sanders told reporters after being drafted Saturday that the pranks had no effect on him.
“Of course, I think it’s childish,” he said. “Of course, I feel that’s a childish act, but everyone is doing something childish here and there.”
The Falcons said in a statement that Jeff Ulbric had not been aware of the data exposure or prank calls until it was discovered after the fact. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Falcons will not take any action against Jeff Ulbric, who was hired by Atlanta in January, after serving as interim head coach for the New York Jets.
“We are also in touch with the NFL and will continue to work fully together with any questions we may receive from the league’s office,” the Falcons said in a statement. “We have thoroughly reviewed and updated all protocols as needed to ensure that these incidents do not happen again.”
