Shedeur Sanders’ NFL draft night took an unexpected turn when a prank caller impersonating a Saints executive left the quarterback momentarily believing he was about to be selected, only to later fall to the fifth round amid an NFL investigation into the incident.
At a Glance
- The NFL is investigating a prank call made to Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL draft after his private phone number was leaked
- The prank caller posed as Saints GM Mickey Loomis, falsely telling Sanders he would be selected with their next pick
- Sanders, once considered a top prospect, fell to the fifth round where the Browns selected him at No. 144 overall
- The culprit was identified as Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich
- Both the Falcons organization and Jax Ulbrich have issued apologies to Sanders and his family
Prank Call Disrupts Draft Night
During the 2025 NFL Draft, quarterback Shedeur Sanders became the victim of a cruel prank that has since sparked an NFL investigation. Sanders, who many analysts projected as a first-round selection, received a call early in the second round from someone falsely claiming to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. The call momentarily led Sanders to believe he was about to be selected, creating confusion when the Saints instead chose Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the 40th overall pick.
The prank call was captured on video, showing Sanders receiving the misleading message. According to reports, the caller told Sanders: “It’s been a long wait, man. We’re going to take you with our next pick, man, but you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that.” Sanders expressed confusion afterward, noting that only select NFL personnel should have had access to his draft phone number, raising immediate security concerns about the draft process.
Culprit Identified as Coach’s Son
In a surprising development, the Atlanta Falcons released a statement identifying the perpetrator as Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. According to the team, the younger Ulbrich discovered Sanders’ contact information on an open iPad while visiting his parents’ home and decided to use it for a prank call. The Falcons emphasized that Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of both the data exposure and the prank until after it occurred.
The Falcons have issued a formal apology to Sanders and his family, stating: “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.” The organization confirmed they are cooperating with the NFL’s ongoing investigation into the incident.
Sanders Falls to Fifth Round
The bizarre prank call situation added another layer to what was already a challenging draft experience for Sanders. Despite being widely considered a potential first-round talent, the Colorado quarterback watched as teams passed on him through the first four rounds. The Cleveland Browns finally selected Sanders with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round, well below where many analysts projected him to go.
“It didn’t really have an impact on me, because it was just like, I mean, OK, like I don’t feed into negativity or I don’t feed into that stuff. You’ve seen on Deion [Sanders] Jr.’s YouTube video. My reaction to it, I don’t — it is what it is. I think of course it is childish. Of course, I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody does childish things here and there.”, said Sanders.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t mince words about the prank, describing it as “sad” and referring to the perpetrators as “morons.” The incident has raised serious questions about the security protocols surrounding the NFL draft process and the protection of sensitive information. Meanwhile, Sanders’ brother, Shilo Sanders, went undrafted but has since signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent.
NFL Investigation Underway
The NFL has launched a formal investigation into the prank call incident, focusing not only on how Sanders’ private phone number was compromised but also on the apparent breach of draft security protocols. A video allegedly surfaced showing the pranksters orchestrating the call and laughing about it afterward, providing potential evidence for investigators. The league has been in contact with the Falcons organization as part of their inquiry.
The incident has sparked debate within NFL circles about draft process integrity and the treatment of prospects. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. was vocal in his criticism of how the situation was handled, questioning why teams passed on a quarterback with Sanders’ credentials. As the investigation continues, the league faces pressure to implement stronger security measures to prevent similar incidents in future drafts.
