Jax Ulbrich apologizes for prank call to Shedeur Sanders during NFL Draft

In the United States, the NFL Draft took place from April 25 to April 27, 2025, where Shedeur Sanders, a standout quarterback from Colorado, was selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th overall pick in the fifth round. On the second day of the draft, as Sanders waited to be chosen, he received an unexpected call from someone impersonating New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. This prank call confused Sanders and his friends, and it was later revealed that the call originated from Jax Ulbrich, the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Jax Ulbrich unintentionally acquired Shedeur Sanders’ phone number when he came across it written on an open iPad while visiting his parents' home. After obtaining the number, he decided to make the prank call, not recognizing the potential harm or embarrassment it could cause. The pranking incident quickly garnered social media attention, prompting the NFL to launch an investigation into how Sanders’ number was leaked and used for this purpose. Many, including Sanders' new coach, Kevin Stefanski, criticized the behavior, with some labeling it as childish and irresponsible. Following the prank call controversy, Jax Ulbrich publicly apologized via Instagram stating he regretted his actions, acknowledging how it detracted from Sanders' momentous occasion. He acknowledged the call was selfish and childish, expressing his hope that Sanders could find it in his heart to forgive him. The Atlanta Falcons also issued a statement saying that they did not condone Jax's actions and were reviewing their protocols to prevent similar events in the future. The aftermath raised awareness about how personal information, especially related to young athletes during significant moments like the NFL Draft, should be handled more carefully. The Falcons expressed their intention to fully cooperate with the NFL’s investigation and emphasized the need for stringent measures to protect players’ privacy. Sanders, for his part, did not allow the prank call to negatively affect his draft experience, downplaying its impact on him as he focused on his professional career ahead.