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A young adult, Jax Ulbrich, whose father is an NFL assistant coach, has come forward to apologize for a prank call made to former University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders during the recent NFL Draft.
Ulbrich, the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, shared his regret in a statement posted on social media. He acknowledged that his actions were “a tremendous mistake,” calling the incident “inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful.”
During the draft, Sanders experienced a significant drop, selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. This was surprising, as forecasts had placed him within the top three picks or at least in the second round. It was amid this tense moment that the prank call occurred.
The prank was made public when it appeared on social media, showcasing two young men lounging on a couch. One was seen with a phone and a notebook, waiting for the call to connect. When Sanders picked up, the caller presented himself as Mickley Loomis, general manager of the New Orleans Saints.
The caller declared, “We’re going to take you with our next pick here, man,” to which Sanders replied, “Yes sir, let’s be legendary.” Yet, the light-hearted moment quickly dissolved as the prankster told him, “You’re going to have to wait a little longer, man. Sorry about that,” before hanging up.
The Atlanta Falcons released a statement revealing that Jax Ulbrich had obtained Sanders’s number from an open iPad belonging to the team and his father. They emphasized that Jeff Ulbrich had no knowledge of the prank until after it occurred. The Falcons confirmed that they do not intend to impose disciplinary measures against the elder Ulbrich and have facilitated a direct apology from his son to Sanders.
In his message, Jax also expressed his gratitude to Sanders for engaging in the call and requested his forgiveness.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy indicated that the league is looking into the situation and has been in discussions with the Falcons regarding the incident. CBS News has reached out to Sanders for his comments.
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