The Falcons released a statement saying 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich \u201cunintentionally came across the draft contact phone number for Shedeur Sanders off an open iPad while visiting his parents\u2019 home and wrote the number down to later conduct a prank call.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though Jax Ulbrich provided the number, he was sitting beside an unidentified friend who actually made the call to Sanders.<\/p>\n
The Falcons said Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the data exposure or the prank until after the fact. They offered \u201csincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family\u201d in their statement, and Jax Ulbrich also posted a public apology on social media.<\/p>\n
Sanders, a standout quarterback from Colorado, is the son of Buffaloes coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who began his NFL career with the Falcons.<\/p>\n
Shedeur Sanders was perhaps the\u00a0draft\u2019s biggest story<\/a>\u00a0as he had to wait until the fifth round on Saturday before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns. He received a prank call on Friday night, the second day of the draft, while waiting.<\/p>\n In the call, Jax Ulbrich\u2019s friend identified himself as New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and told Sanders he had been drafted by the Saints before ending the call.<\/p>\n \u201cIt didn\u2019t really have no impact on me because it was just like, OK. I don\u2019t feed into negativity or I don\u2019t feed into that stuff,\u201d Sanders said Saturday after being drafted. \u201c… This is what it is. I think, of course, it\u2019s childish, of course I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody do childish things here and there.\u201d<\/p>\n Jax Ulbrich apologized to Sanders on Sunday for what he called \u201ca tremendous mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing and shameful,\u201d he wrote on social media. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish. I could never imagine getting ready to celebrate one of the greatest moments of your life and I made a terrible mistake and messed with that moment. Thank you for accepting my call earlier today, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.\u201d<\/p>\n The Falcons also apologized to Sanders and his family, saying they \u201cdo not condone this behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are thoroughly reviewing all protocols, and updating if necessary, to help prevent an incident like this from happening again,\u201d the Falcons said.<\/p>\n A screen shows Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders after being chosen by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th overall pick during the third day of the NFL football draft, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)AP<\/p>\n The Falcons said they have been in contact with the NFL \u201cand will continue to cooperate fully with any inquiries we may receive from the NFL league office.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeff Ulbrich celebrated the Falcons\u2019\u00a0emphasis on defense<\/a>\u00a0in the NFL draft. The Falcons selected two edge rushers, Georgia\u2019s Jalon Walker and Tennessee\u2019s James Pearce Jr., in the first round. Their first four draft picks were defensive players.<\/p>\n Ulbrich was 3-9 as interim coach of the New York Jets last season before being\u00a0hired to return<\/a>\u00a0to Atlanta, where he previously worked as an assistant.<\/p>\n AP Sports Writer Noah Trister in Washington contributed to this report.<\/p>\n![\"NFL](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6ZOGRWKY2NGNRJBSK66LSERGFM.jpg\")
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