The NFL has fined the Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich $350,000 after a phone number leak led to a prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft, a league source told UPI on Wednesday.
“We appreciate the NFL’s swift and thorough review of last week’s data exposure and the event that transpired due to it,” the Falcons said in a statement. “We were proactive in addressing the situation internally and cooperated fully with the league throughout the process, and accept the discipline levied to coach Jeff Ulbrich and the organization.
“We are confident in our security policies and practices and will continue to emphasize adherence to them with our staff whether on or off premises. Additionally, the Ulbrich family is working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives in relation to last week’s matter.”
Ulbrich was fined $100,000, while the Falcons faced a $250,000 penalty. He joined the team as defensive coordinator in January.
The incident took place Friday night during the second and third rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. At the time, Sanders was attending a family gathering in Canton, Texas, while many top prospects participated in the three-day event in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The former Colorado quarterback, once projected as a potential first-round selection, was ultimately picked by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round on Saturday.
Sanders, who was being followed by a camera crew during the draft, appeared in footage shared on YouTube and social media.
One clip captured the prank call, in which someone pretended to be New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis—while Ulbrich’s son, Jax, was seen sitting nearby.
“We’re going to take you with our next pick, man, but you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer, man,” the impersonator told Sanders. “Sorry about that.”
Sanders, who was seen asking others at the gathering what the call might signify, noted that only coaches had access to the phone number.
Jax Ulbrich, a college student, later took responsibility for the prank call and issued an apology to Sanders.
On Sunday, the Falcons stated that the 21-year-old had obtained the number from an unlocked iPad while visiting his parents’ home.
“Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful,” Ulbrich wrote on Instagram. “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 [Monday]. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Sanders spoke to reporters Saturday and addressed the call. He said it made “no impact.”
“I don’t feed into negativity, or I don’t feed into that stuff,” Sanders said. “You’ve seen on Deion [Sanders] Jr.’s YouTube video, my reaction to it. 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.”
Sanders was the sixth quarterback taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, following Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Dillon Gabriel.
