NFL coach’s son behind Shedeur Sanders draft prank call
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images The son of the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive coordinator took responsibility for the prank call on Sunday. One of the biggest stories of the 2025 NFL Draft — or: the biggest story if your name is Mel Kiper Jr. — was the unprecedented fall of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The reasons behind his slide from projected first-round pick to Day 3 are manifold, but it sparked plenty debates and memes. It also sparked one of the forgettable moments of the draft: Sanders receiving a prank call on Thursday night from a person pretending to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. Turns out, the person involved indeed had connections to the NFL: it was the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Jax Ulbrich released a statement on the incident on Sunday. Jax Ulbrich, the son of #Falcons DB Jeff Ulbrich, has released a statement apologizing for his prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/etr2ylbTGs— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2025 “Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable,” the statement read (with the original one misspelling Sanders’ first name). “I’m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish.” In a video circulating on social media, the prank caller was heard impersonating Loomis and tricking Sanders into believing he was about to be drafted. “It’s been a long wait, man,” he said. “We’re going to take you with our next pick, man, but you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that.” In addition to Sanders, new Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren said on Sunday that he also received a prank call during the draft. Questions about the origins of the Sanders call arose immediately given that the phone used by Sanders was one whose number had been given out only to a handful of NFL executives. Initial speculation on social media wrongfully accused the daughter of New York Giants GM Joe Schoen, who was not involved in the matter. The Falcons also released a statement on Sunday. Statement from the #Falcons on the involvement of DC Jeff Ulbrich’s son, Jax, in the viral draft weekend prank call to Shedeur Sanders: pic.twitter.com/yKyE6DQwq5— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 27, 2025 According to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team will not take any action against its defensive coordinator. They will, however, review their protocols to find out how Sanders’ phone number ended up in Jax Ulbrich’s possession. Projected as a potential first-round pick leading into the event, Sanders remained on the board until the Cleveland Browns selected him 144th overall in Round 5.
The son of the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive coordinator took responsibility for the prank call on Sunday.
One of the biggest stories of the 2025 NFL Draft — or: the biggest story if your name is Mel Kiper Jr. — was the unprecedented fall of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The reasons behind his slide from projected first-round pick to Day 3 are manifold, but it sparked plenty debates and memes.
It also sparked one of the forgettable moments of the draft: Sanders receiving a prank call on Thursday night from a person pretending to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis.
Turns out, the person involved indeed had connections to the NFL: it was the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Jax Ulbrich released a statement on the incident on Sunday.
Jax Ulbrich, the son of #Falcons DB Jeff Ulbrich, has released a statement apologizing for his prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/etr2ylbTGs— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2025
“Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable,” the statement read (with the original one misspelling Sanders’ first name). “I’m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish.”
In a video circulating on social media, the prank caller was heard impersonating Loomis and tricking Sanders into believing he was about to be drafted.
“It’s been a long wait, man,” he said. “We’re going to take you with our next pick, man, but you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that.”
In addition to Sanders, new Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren said on Sunday that he also received a prank call during the draft.
Questions about the origins of the Sanders call arose immediately given that the phone used by Sanders was one whose number had been given out only to a handful of NFL executives. Initial speculation on social media wrongfully accused the daughter of New York Giants GM Joe Schoen, who was not involved in the matter.
The Falcons also released a statement on Sunday.
Statement from the #Falcons on the involvement of DC Jeff Ulbrich’s son, Jax, in the viral draft weekend prank call to Shedeur Sanders: pic.twitter.com/yKyE6DQwq5— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 27, 2025
According to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team will not take any action against its defensive coordinator. They will, however, review their protocols to find out how Sanders’ phone number ended up in Jax Ulbrich’s possession.
Projected as a potential first-round pick leading into the event, Sanders remained on the board until the Cleveland Browns selected him 144th overall in Round 5.
