The NFL has fined the Atlanta Falcons $250,000 after former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ phone number was leaked by Jax Ulbrich, the son of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich
There can be no doubt about it; the story that dominated the 2025 NFL Draft headlines was that of Shedeur Sanders’ fall from a potential first-round prospect to a fifth-round selection.
In the days following the NFL Draft, which saw Cam Ward selected first overall by the Tennessee Titans, it has emerged that Sanders, who was eventually picked by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, essentially tanked his own stock in the build-up to the event in Green Bay due to bad interviews with NFL teams.
However, another story has since emerged about Sanders, namely, what happened to him during the NFL Draft while he was waiting for a team to select him. It has since come out that the former Colorado quarterback was prank-called after his phone number was leaked by Jax Ulbrich, the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
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The son of the Falcons DC accessed Sanders’ phone number via Ulbrich’s iPad, and impersonated New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, telling the quarterback they would be taking him shortly.
While the Falcons have been fined $250,000, with Jeff Ulbrich also fined $100,000 “for failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL Draft”, Pro Football Talk reports that it was the NFL who sent out Sanders’ new phone number via email to “all General Managers, head coaches, player personnel directors and club IT directors” in the build-up to the draft.
On Wednesday, April 23, the NFL sent the memo out to the team personnel with the phone numbers of 45 players, with it marked “confidential”. The impression created by the fine the NFL dished out to the Falcons and Ulbrich was the team then forwarded it on to the coach.
However, what actually transpired was the NFL itself sent out an additional email to a group that “includes all coaches and assistant coaches.”
Pro Football Talk also claims the email the NFL sent to the coaches and assistant coaches does not use the word “confidential” on it.
A statement from the Falcons following the incident read: “Earlier in the week, Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, unintentionally came across the draft contact phone number for Shedeur Sanders off an open iPad while visiting his parent’s home and wrote the number down to later conduct a prank call.
“Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the data exposure or any facets of the prank and was made aware of the above only after the fact.
“The Atlanta Falcons do not condone this behavior and send our sincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family, who we have been in contact with to apologize to, as well as facilitate an apology directly from Jax to the Sanders family.
“We have also been in contact with the NFL and will continue to cooperate fully with any inquiries we may receive from the NFL league office.
“We are thoroughly reviewing all protocols, and updating if necessary, to help prevent an incident like this from happening again.”
Ulbrich’s son also issued an apology of his own, writing on social media: “On Friday night I made a tremendous mistake.
“Sheduer [sic], what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful. I’m 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. @shedeursanders.”
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
