The NFL has levied significant penalties against the Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich following an incident during the 2025 NFL Draft involving a prank phone call to quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders.
The league fined the Falcons $250,000 and Ulbrich personally $100,000 for a violation tied to confidential draft information.
Falcons fumble Draft security
The penalties stem from an April 25 incident in which Ulbrich’s son, Jax, used access to his father’s team-issued device to retrieve private information.
Jax Ulbrich then used that information to call Sanders while posing as New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis.
The call, made as Sanders waited for his name to be called during the draft, falsely suggested he was about to be selected by the Saints before it was revealed to be a prank.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the fine was “for failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL Draft,” highlighting the league’s concern over the breach.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Falcons said, “We appreciate the NFL’s swift and thorough review of last week’s data exposure and the event that transpired due to it. We were proactive in addressing the situation internally and cooperated fully with the league throughout the process, and accept the discipline levied to Coach Jeff 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 Ulbrich, 21, publicly apologized via Instagram, calling his actions “inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful,” and said Sanders had accepted his apology.
Sanders later confirmed in a media call that the prank didn’t impact him emotionally, though he did call it “childish.”
The prank added to what was already a surprising slide for Sanders, who had been projected as a first-round selection but wasn’t drafted until the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns.
While similar prank calls were reportedly made to other draft prospects, including Tyler Warren and Kyle McCord, the league clarified those incidents were unrelated.
However, the NFL is continuing to review how such breaches are occurring during high-profile events.
The Falcons’ disciplinary response and the NFL’s swift enforcement send a clear message about the importance of information security and professionalism, even in moments meant to celebrate young athletes’ futures.
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