NFL's Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator receive fines for a practical joke involving Shedeur Sanders, a college quarterback.
Wayward Prank Call During NFL Draft Earns Atlanta Falcons a Hefty Fine
Flashy tactics and questionable antics are as much a part of the NFL spectacle as passing yards and touchdowns. But the Atlanta Falcons have taken things a step too far with their latest stunt, paying a high price for their involvement in a prank call involving now-Cleveland Browns quarterback, Shedeur Sanders.
Last Wednesday, the Falcons were hit with a $250,000 fine, and Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich received a stern $100,000 penalty from the league. The guilty party, it seems, was none other than Ulbrich's 21-year-old son, Jax, who infamously pulled the strings on the prank call.
On April 25, during the second day of the NFL draft, the unsuspecting Sanders received a phone call from a caller posing as New Orleans Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis. Little did he know that he was being led on with brief false promises of being drafted by the team before the joke was revealed.
With maternal instincts kicking in, the Falcons quickly owned up to Jax's role in the call. In their statement released last Wednesday, they revealed Jax had sourced Sanders' contact details from his father's iPad, which he then provided to his buddy.
The confederate behind the call was spotted seated next to Jax in the now-infamous video of the call
Looking to make amends, the Falcons pledged to work on community service initiatives to atone for their involvement in the prank call. They acknowledged the NFL's swift investigation and expressed their cooperation throughout the process.
Shedeur Sanders, the Big 12's Offensive Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season, found himself on the radar of many NFL teams, with speculations swirling that he could be taken as high as the No.3 pick by the New York Giants. However, things took a sour turn when he slipped in the draft all the way to the fifth round, being picked by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th overall pick.
The fall from grace drew widespread attention, even catching the eye of former President Donald Trump, who branded the molders "stupid" for not selecting Sanders earlier.
The Falcons' prank call might seem like a harmless joke, but it seems that the NFL is taking a hard line with such actions, doling out punishments to reinforce the importance of respect and decorum during the draft process.
Sources:
[1] Atlanta Falcons fined $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich $100,000 for prank call on Shedeur Sanders, The Associated Press, April 27, 2023[2] The Shedeur Sanders slide: Why the QB fell to the NFL draft's fifth round, Sports Illustrated, April 29, 2023[3] Shedeur Sanders selected by Cleveland Browns after falling to fifth round of NFL draft, ESPN, April 29, 2023[4] NFL investigating prank calls during 2025 NFL Draft, USA Today, April 28, 2023
The Atlanta Falcons, known for their flashy tactics and questionable antics, have been fined $250,000 and Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich received a $100,000 penalty for a prank call involving American football player Shedeur Sanders during the NFL Draft.
The guilty party was Ulbrich's son, Jax, who was responsible for pulling the strings on the prank call that led to the Falcons' hefty fine.
The prank involved a phone call to Sanders, posing as a representative from the New Orleans Saints, promising him a spot on the team before revealing the prank.
Looking to make amends, the Falcons have pledged to work on community service initiatives to atone for their involvement in the prank call.
