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Prank Call at NFL Draft: Falcons’ Coach’s Son Apologizes to Shedeur Sanders
An incident during the NFL Draft involving Shedeur Sanders has drawn significant attention after a prank call led to an apology from Jax Ulbrich, the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. This event occurred as Sanders, a standout quarterback from the Colorado Buffaloes, experienced a surprising drop from a projected first-round pick to being selected in the fifth round.
On his Instagram account, Jax Ulbrich publicly expressed regret for his actions, which he described as “childish and selfish.” He reflected on the gravity of his mistake, acknowledging the disruption it caused during what should have been a celebratory moment for Sanders. In his apology, Ulbrich stated, “On Friday night, I made a tremendous mistake. Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful. I’m so sorry I took away from your moment.”
The NFL has launched an investigation into the prank call, confirming to Fox News Digital that it will review the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Falcons clarified that Jax Ulbrich accessed Sanders’ contact information from an iPad left unattended at his parents’ home. In their statement, they emphasized that Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the situation until after it had occurred. “Earlier in the week, Jax unintentionally came across the draft contact phone number for Shedeur Sanders…and wrote the number down to later conduct a prank call,” the team elaborated.
The Falcons have since reached out to Sanders and his family to convey their apologies and to facilitate a direct apology from Jax. The organization stated, “The Atlanta Falcons do not condone this behavior and send our sincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family.” They also expressed their commitment to cooperating with the NFL and re-evaluating their protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
Shedeur Sanders has faced multiple prank calls during the draft process, but he has maintained a positive demeanor about the situation. Commenting on the prank, he mentioned, “It didn’t really have an impact on me… I don’t feed into negativity… I think, of course, it’s childish.” His reaction highlights his resilience amidst the distractions.
Following the draft, the Cleveland Browns chose Sanders with the 144th overall pick, marking a new chapter in his football career. His new head coach, Kevin Stefanski, commented on the incident, labeling the prank call as a reflection of poor judgment, succinctly stating that “people are morons.”
As the NFL continues its investigation, the focus remains on how organizations can better safeguard player information and prevent such invasions of privacy in the future.
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