In an unexpected turn of events, Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich found himself apologizing publicly after his son, Jax Ulbrich, played a prank call on Shedeur Sanders during the NFL Draft.
Sanders, who had been waiting to be selected after a tense period of uncertainty, was prank-called on the night of the draft—a moment that would go down in the books as an unfortunate incident for the Falcons organization.
Prank Call Sends Shockwaves Through the NFL Draft
Shedeur Sanders, a former highly-touted top prospect, found himself unexpectedly receiving a prank call from Jax Ulbrich, the son of the defensive coordinator.
Sanders, who was waiting for his turn to be picked up by an NFL team, had slipped to the fifth round after a long wait.
This prank added a strange twist to his already stressful draft experience, with the call happening right when he was anticipating a life-changing moment.
Fines Imposed on the Falcons and Jeff Ulbrich for the Incident
The aftermath of the prank call saw the Falcons facing a substantial fine of $250,000, with Jeff Ulbrich personally fined $100,000 for his part in the breach of confidentiality.
The fine amounted to nearly three weeks of Ulbrich’s salary, a significant penalty for both the coach and the team.
Ulbrich made it clear, however, that he would not be appealing the NFL’s decision.
Coach Ulbrich Takes Full Responsibility for the Situation
Jeff Ulbrich took the opportunity to issue a public apology.
“I’d like to publicly apologize to Shedeur and the Sanders family for what occurred,” Ulbrich stated.
“My actions of not protecting confidential data were inexcusable.
My son’s actions were absolutely inexcusable. And for that, we are both deeply sorry.”
He went on to extend his apology to Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, general manager Terry Fontenot, head coach Raheem Morris, and the entire Falcons organization for the embarrassment the incident caused.
The Falcons coach emphasized that both he and his son took full responsibility for the actions and would not seek to challenge the NFL’s ruling.
He also promised to work hard moving forward to demonstrate better judgment and responsibility.
Ulbrich’s Reaction After Learning of the Prank Call
Ulbrich explained that he was unaware of his son’s prank until the conclusion of the draft.
At that time, he was in the team’s war room, focused on helping to make picks.
Upon learning of the incident, Ulbrich immediately informed the Falcons about the situation and made efforts to reach out to the Sanders family.
“Obviously not happy and shocked,” Ulbrich shared, detailing his reaction. “We made it a priority to apologize to the Sanders family.”
The Sanders Family’s Gracious Response
Ulbrich was quick to acknowledge how understanding the Sanders family was despite the situation.
“The Sanders family, Shedeur, and Coach Deion Sanders were amazingly gracious, more gracious than they needed to be,” he said.
Ulbrich’s comments highlighted the class and dignity with which the Sanders family responded to what could have been a much more contentious issue.
Maintaining Confidentiality and Addressing the Rumors
While Ulbrich did not delve into the specifics of how his son’s prank had involved a breach of confidentiality, he did express regret over the entire incident.
Rumors had swirled around the possibility of an iPad being left open, though Ulbrich chose not to address these directly.
Instead, he focused on the overall responsibility he and his son shared in maintaining the privacy and integrity of draft day.
This incident has undoubtedly caused embarrassment, but Ulbrich’s public apology shows a commitment to moving forward and learning from the situation.