NFL Fines Falcons $250K, DC Jeff Ulbrich $100K Over Shedeur Sanders Prank Call Incident

The NFL has imposed significant fines on the Atlanta Falcons and their defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich, following a prank call incident involving quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Falcons were fined $250,000, and Ulbrich was fined $100,000 for failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL Draft. 

The incident occurred when Ulbrich’s 21-year-old son, Jax, accessed his father’s iPad and obtained Sanders’ phone number. Jax then made a prank call to Sanders, impersonating New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, and falsely claimed that the team intended to draft him. 

A video of the prank call surfaced on social media, drawing widespread criticism. Jax Ulbrich publicly apologized for the incident, calling his actions “completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful.” 

The Falcons issued a statement acknowledging the incident and expressing their apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family. They also stated that the Ulbrich family would participate in community service initiatives related to the matter. 

Shedeur Sanders, who was eventually selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the draft, described the prank as a “childish act” but indicated that he was not significantly affected by it. 

The NFL’s disciplinary action underscores the importance of safeguarding confidential information and maintaining professionalism during the draft process.