Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com
The NFL Draft should’ve been a celebration of football’s newest talents. Instead, it’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons. What was supposed to be a weekend showcasing the next generation of stars turned into a disturbing story about cruel pranks targeting top prospects Shedeur Sanders and Tyler Warren.
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders took a surprising tumble in the draft, waiting until the fifth round before the Browns finally called his name at pick 144. But his draft night frustration was made worse when he became the target of a malicious prank. Someone pretending to be Saints GM Mickey Loomis called Sanders, telling him he’d be picked next – only to cruelly take it back moments later.
The prank call was recorded and went viral online, adding public humiliation to Sanders’ already difficult draft experience.
Prankster Identified as NFL Coach’s Son
On Sunday, we learned who was behind the shameful stunt. Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, admitted to making the call and issued an apology on Instagram. He wasn’t acting alone – video shows accomplices who helped record and share the prank on social media.
Jax Ulbrich, the son of Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich, has released a statement apologizing for his prank call to Shedeur Sanders during theNFL Draft. “I hope you forgive me” pic.twitter.com/EHMA13KPam
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) April 27, 2025
The situation gets worse. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reports that Penn State tight end Tyler Warren was also victimized during the draft. Warren received a similar prank call when the Jets were on the clock at No. 7 – reportedly from the same number or area code used to target Sanders the previous night.
Sources: Penn State TE Tyler Warren was also prank called during the draft, receiving a call when the #Jets were on the clock at No. 7. I’m told Warren’s camp believes it was the same number and/or area code involved in the Shedeur Sanders prank on Friday night.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 27, 2025
NFL teams have… pic.twitter.com/dJrF9Ir22s
Warren was eventually selected by the Colts with the 14th pick.
NFL Needs Stronger Response to Draft Security Breach
The Falcons released a statement claiming Jax Ulbrich “unintentionally came across” Sanders’ contact number and decided to use it for a prank. They’ve also tried to distance Jeff Ulbrich from the incident, stating he “was unaware of data exposure and any facet of the prank.”
Let’s be clear – this wasn’t just a harmless joke. Jax Ulbrich isn’t some naive teenager. He’s a 21-year-old adult who deliberately embarrassed draft prospects during what should be one of the proudest moments of their careers – and did it for social media attention.
The most concerning part? The Falcons have already announced Jeff Ulbrich won’t face any punishment. This makes no sense. He’s responsible for the security of sensitive NFL information, yet somehow his son gained access to confidential contact details for draft prospects.
This is a massive security failure.
If these pranksters also targeted Warren, the NFL needs law enforcement involved. This goes beyond a bad joke – it’s about protecting the integrity of the draft process and the privacy of players entering the league.
The league should mandate security training for all personnel – coaches, scouts, and staff – who handle sensitive information. If the Falcons won’t take appropriate action, the NFL needs to step in with serious consequences, even if it means making an example of the organization.
What should have been a weekend celebrating new talent instead exposed serious flaws in the NFL’s information security protocols – and the human cost when that system fails.
