"Absolutely inexcusable": Jeff Ulbrich finally speaks out after son’s $350,000 prank call to Shedeur Sanders

The Atlanta Falcons have found themselves at the center of a controversy following a prank call that targeted college football star Shedeur Sanders just ahead of the NFL Draft. What started as a misguided joke has now led to serious consequences, with the league imposing significant fines on both the organization and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Falcons have been fined $250,000 and Ulbrich has been personally penalized $100,000. The league cited the incident as a violation stemming from “failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL draft.” The prank call, which was carried out by Ulbrich’s 21-year-old son Jax, raised major concerns over the mishandling of sensitive data during one of the most critical periods in the NFL’s calendar year.

Jax reportedly accessed Shedeur Sanders’ phone number through his father's iPad and contacted the draft prospect under the false pretense that he was being selected by the New Orleans Saints. The hoax, which quickly went viral, not only disrupted Sanders’ draft experience but also stirred widespread criticism. Though Jax later issued a public apology calling his behavior “completely inexcusable, embarrassing and shameful,” the fallout was inevitable.
Shedeur Sanders had been considered a likely first or second-round pick, generating buzz among scouts and fans alike. However, he surprisingly slipped to the fifth round before being picked up by the Cleveland Browns. While it’s unclear whether the prank had any direct influence on his draft stock, the incident added an unwelcome twist to what should have been a defining moment in his career.
In response to the backlash, the Falcons issued a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the matter and revealed that “the Ulbrich family is working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives in relation to last week’s matter.” The team is clearly attempting to turn a regrettable situation into a learning opportunity.

Jeff Ulbrich addressed the media in an emotional press conference. “First of all, I'd like to publicly apologize to Shedeur and the Sanders family for what occurred. Second of all, I want to publicly apologize to Mr. Blank, Terry Fontenot, Raheem Morris and the entire Falcons organization,” Ulbrich stated. He took full responsibility for the lapse in securing confidential information and called both his and his son’s actions “absolutely inexcusable.”
He went on to share his personal reaction upon discovering the prank’s origin. “Obviously not happy, and shocked,” Ulbrich said. He immediately informed the Falcons and made efforts to reach the Sanders family. “The Sanders family, Shedeur and coach Sanders, were amazingly gracious. More gracious than they needed to be in a moment like this.”
While Sanders has reportedly moved on from the ordeal with grace, the incident has raised larger questions about internal security protocols within NFL franchises. Interestingly, reports suggest that other draft hopefuls, including Abdul Carter, Tyler Warren, and Kyle McCord, were also victims of similar prank calls, though the league has determined these incidents to be unrelated.
Also Read: Former ESPN president shuts down Shedeur Sanders collusion theory, says draft slide isn’t a conspiracy