NFL Punishes Falcons For Shedeur Sanders Prank Call

The NFL fined the Falcons $250,000 for the organization’s role in the prank call involving Sanders and Jax Ulbrich, the son of Atlanta’s defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.

Jeff was fined $100,000 for “failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the 2025 NFL Draft.”

Jax stole Sanders’ private number from Jeff’s iPad and then called the prospect during the draft to pose as an opposing team’s general manager.

The Falcons released a statement where they accepted the fines.

“We appreciate the NFL’s swift and thorough review of last week’s data exposure and the event that transpired due to it,” the team said in the statement. “We were proactive in addressing the situation internally and cooperated fully with the league throughout the process, and accept the discipline levied to Coach Ulbrich and the organization. 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. Additionally, the Ulbrich family is working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives in relation to last week’s matter.”

Jax And Jeff Ulbrich Apologized For Prank Phone Call

As Sanders began to slide in the draft, Jax was captured on video sitting next to someone who called Sanders on a private line and pretended to be Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. As Loomis, the boy told Sanders that the Saints would select the quarterback.

A video of the prank call surfaced on social media, and many quickly deduced that Jax was sitting in the background.

Jax later released a statement, apologizing for his actions.

“I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me,” Jax wrote. Sanders accepted Jax’s call earlier that day.

On Wednesday, Jeff apologized for his son’s actions in a press conference held by the team.

“First of all, I’d like to publicly apologize to Shedeur and the Sanders family for what occurred,” Jeff told reporters. “Second of all, I want to publicly apologize to (Falcons owner) Mr. Blank, Terry Fontenot, Raheem Morris, and the entire Falcons organization. My actions — my actions — of not protecting confidential data were inexcusable. My son’s actions were absolutely inexcusable. And for that, we are both deeply sorry.”