The Atlanta Falcons have been fined $250,000 by the NFL after a controversial incident involving a prank call to quarterback Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft. The prank was allegedly carried out by Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
According to reports, Jax Ulbrich obtained Sanders' phone number from an iPad while visiting his parents' home and used it to make a prank call, pretending to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. In a video circulating on social media, Sanders can be heard taking the call, during which the impersonator claims the Saints will select him next—only to later say he’ll “have to wait a little bit longer.”
As a result of the incident, Jeff Ulbrich has been personally fined $100,000, though the Falcons stated he was unaware of the data exposure or any aspect of the prank. The NFL determined that the organization failed to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of confidential draft information, which led to the disciplinary action.
The Falcons issued a public apology to Shedeur Sanders and confirmed that both Jeff and Jax Ulbrich are cooperating fully with the league. The organization stated:
“We were proactive in addressing the situation internally, cooperated fully with the NFL, and accept the discipline issued. We remain confident in our security policies and will continue emphasizing compliance both on and off premises.”
Additionally, the Ulbrich family is partnering with the Falcons on community service initiatives in response to the incident.
Shedeur Sanders—son of NFL legend and former Falcons player Deion Sanders—ultimately was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th overall pick in the fifth round. While Sanders called the prank call "childish," he added, "It didn’t really have an impact on me."
