By Jeff Howe, Zack Rosenblatt, Dianna Russini and Cale Clinton
The Atlanta Falcons and the son of the team’s defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich offered public apologies Sunday to Shedeur Sanders regarding a prank call made to Sanders during the second round of the NFL Draft.
from the Falcons: pic.twitter.com/BtEMZ33Fsi
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 27, 2025
Jax Ulbrich, son of Jeff Ulbrich, also offered an apology via his Instagram account.
Statement on IG from Jax Ulbrich, son of the Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, about the draft weekend prank call to Shedeur Sanders: pic.twitter.com/qPITk6gItD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2025
The Falcons have decided not to punish their defensive coordinator, according to team sources.
Earlier Sunday, a league source confirmed to The Athletic that the NFL is investigating the Friday night prank call to Sanders.
While the Cleveland Browns eventually stopped Sanders’ highly publicized slide in the fifth round, a prank call to Sanders’ draft phone Friday night claimed that he would be taken with the 40th pick by the New Orleans Saints.
“This is Mickey Loomis here, (general manager) of the Saints. It’s been a long wait, man. We’re gonna take you with our next pick right here, man,” the caller said. The prank call was captured on video by Well Off Media, a YouTube channel run by Deion Sanders Jr., Shedeur’s older brother.
“Yes sir, let’s be legendary,” Sanders said.
“But you’re gonna have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that,” the caller said before hanging up. The Saints eventually picked Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with their selection.
Over the weekend, a video that appeared to capture the exchange from the prank caller’s point of view began circulating on social media.
Sanders, who ranked as the No. 2 quarterback and No. 34 overall prospect in The Athletic’s draft guide “The Beast,” was eventually taken No. 144 overall in the fifth round on Saturday.
The call was made to a phone Sanders purchased specifically for the draft. He received the phone Thursday and only shared the number in an email thread that the NFL sent to teams.
Prank calls are not uncommon during the draft. Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean received a prank call during the 2024 draft while in the green room just before his eventual selection, as have several other players.
In the footage captured by Well Off Media, Sanders downplayed the prank call.
“Nobody has that number but coaches, strictly for that reason,” Sanders said. “Why get mad? They want you to have a certain type of reaction to it. They want you to feel bad. But I ain’t trippin’.”
Sanders later posted “Thank you GOD for EVERYTHING,” to his X account toward the end of the draft’s second day.
(Photo: Jerome Miron / Imagn Images)
