For any young football player, hearing their name called at the NFL Draft is the moment they’ve worked their whole life for — a reward for years of sacrifice, training, and unwavering determination. But for Shedeur Sanders, the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, what should have been a night filled with pure excitement took an unexpected and unfortunate turn.
While waiting anxiously for his name to be called, Sanders received what appeared to be the call every player dreams of: a team offering him the chance to join their organization. Only this time, it wasn’t a team official on the other end. It was Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, making a prank call that left Sanders — and thousands watching live — confused and momentarily heartbroken.
How the Prank Unfolded
During a live stream that Sanders hosted to share his draft experience with fans, his phone rang. According to viewers, Shedeur’s face lit up as he answered what he thought was a call from the New Orleans Saints. A voice impersonating a team executive informed him that they planned to select him. Seconds later, the call abruptly ended.
The excitement quickly turned into confusion and disappointment, and fans immediately began speculating whether Sanders had just been pranked.
Jax Ulbrich Comes Forward
Within hours, the mystery was solved. Jax Ulbrich admitted he was the one behind the prank. He had somehow obtained Sanders’ number — allegedly through an old device left at his father’s house — and decided to impersonate an NFL executive during one of the most important nights of Sanders’ life.
After realizing how much damage his prank had caused, Jax Ulbrich stepped up and publicly apologized. In his statement, he admitted that what he did was wrong, calling the prank “stupid” and “immature.” He also shared that he personally reached out to Shedeur Sanders to say sorry, making it clear he never intended to ruin such an important moment in Sanders’ life.
“I made a terrible decision that I deeply regret,” Jax said. “I never intended to hurt anyone, especially not someone who worked so hard to reach this moment.”
Reaction from Jeff Ulbrich and the Falcons
Jeff Ulbrich, who has built a solid reputation as one of the NFL’s respected defensive minds, was blindsided by the incident. The Falcons organization promptly released a statement distancing themselves from Jax’s actions and emphasized that Jeff had no knowledge of his son’s behaviour.
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“We take this matter seriously,” the Falcons’ statement read. “Jeff Ulbrich had no involvement, and we apologize to Shedeur Sanders and his family for any disruption this caused.”
Internally, sources say the Falcons have begun reviewing device and information security protocols to avoid similar breaches of trust in the future.
Shedeur Sanders Stays Focused
Despite the drama, Shedeur Sanders remained composed and mature. Later that night, he was officially selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns, bringing a joyful end to what had been an emotionally taxing day.
Speaking briefly to the media after the incident, Sanders said, “It was a childish prank, but I’m not going to let something like that steal my joy. I’m grateful for the opportunity I have with the Browns, and I’m ready to get to work.”
A Lesson That Hit Home
What started as a harmless prank quickly became a tough lesson about how important it is to respect life-changing moments. Many NFL veterans, fans, and sports commentators spoke out, pointing out that even a joke, if poorly timed, can leave lasting emotional scars.
Reports suggest that the NFL is now reviewing the incident to see if action should be taken — not just to support Shedeur Sanders, but to make sure future draft hopefuls aren’t put through something similar.
In the end, this whole situation serves as a powerful reminder: in moments that define careers and dreams, there’s no room for anything less than respect, professionalism, and basic human decency.
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