The 2025 NFL Draft was marred by practical jokesters tricking prospects into thinking their football dreams were being realized and something needs to be done about it.
The most infamous prank call was orchestrated by Jax, the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Jax obtained Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ private number to prank call him during the draft.
On Day 2 of the draft, Sanders received a call from someone claiming to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, who informed Sanders that the Saints would be taking him with their next pick.
There may be a sure-fire way to prevent this from happening in the future.
One person on X, formerly Twitter, suggested a solution: no one could call players before their selection, and they would have to wait in real-time to see where they would be taken in the NFL Draft.
That way, you can get a real-time reaction on camera, and the only call would come afterward.
Fans reacted to it:
“Or, hear me out here, maybe each team gives the player the number they are calling from to make a contact on the phone,” one person said.
“Draft calls are to allow players to say NO to teams if they’re not interested, even though it’s rare,” another person wrote.
“Nah, the pranks are funny,” a third person said of the NFL Draft prank calls.
“It’s always been weird that they call before the pick is announced,” one final person added.
The NFL Fined The Falcons Over an NFL Draft Prank Call To Shedeur Sanders
The NFL has fined the Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich after his son admitted to prank-calling Shedeur Sanders.
The Falcons will have to pay $250,000, and Ulbrich will have to pay $100,000 for “failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL Draft.”
An investigation found that Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Jeff Ulbrich, “unintentionally” came across Sanders’ phone number on his dad’s iPad, wrote the number down, and gave it to a friend, who called Sanders pretending to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis.
Sanders, the son of Falcons legend and Colorado coach Deion Sanders, had been waiting to get a call from the NFL team wanting to draft him.
Sanders would have until the final day to hear his name.
Jax Ulbrich posted a statement Sunday, apologizing to Sanders and calling his actions “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,” he wrote.
