The 2025 NFL Draft brought plenty of drama, but one incident stole headlines: the leak of Shedeur Sanders‘ phone number, leading to a prank call that sparked a league-wide investigation. According to a report from NBC Sports, the NFL itself sent Sanders’ new draft-specific phone number directly to Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, among others, raising questions about how confidential information is handled.
Shedeur Sanders, the talented Colorado quarterback and son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, was at the center of a media storm during the draft. Selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, Sanders endured a surprising slide, but the real shock came when his phone number was used for a prank call by Ulbrich’s 21-year-old son, Jax.
The call, which went viral on social media, falsely led Sanders to believe he was being drafted by the New Orleans Saints. The fallout was swift: the NFL fined the Falcons $250,000 and Ulbrich $100,000 for “failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information.”
However, NBC Sports clarified that the NFL sent Sanders’ number in an email to a broad range of recipients, including Ulbrich, on April 23, before the draft began. “The NFL sent the email to Ulbrich. PFT has obtained the email,” the report stated, suggesting the league’s own distribution played a role in the leak. Jax reportedly accessed the number from an open iPad at his father’s home, using it for the ill-advised prank.
Prank call linked to NFL’s own leak
Jeff Ulbrich addressed the incident, expressing remorse: “First of all, I’d like to publicly apologize to Shedeur and the Sanders family for what occurred. My actions have not protected confidential data, were inexcusable.” He noted the Sanders family was “more gracious than they needed to be” in accepting his apology. Jax also issued a public apology on social media, calling his actions “inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful.”
The incident highlights broader concerns about the NFL’s handling of sensitive information. With draft phone numbers meant to be tightly controlled, the league’s wide email distribution raised eyebrows.
The prank call, while a one-off, underscores the potential for misuse of insider data, especially in an era where information can spread rapidly online. As the NFL continues to investigate, the focus remains on tightening security protocols to protect players like Sanders, who navigated a challenging draft weekend with grace.
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