NFL Launches Investigation as Jax Ulbrich Is Named as Prankster
The NFL is investigating the Shedeur Sanders prank that unfolded during his slide in the NFL draft, according to ESPN. The news comes as Jax Ulbrich was identified by the Atlanta Falcons as the prankster.
According to ESPN, the NFL was investigating how Sanders' phone number was leaked, although the Atlanta Falcons appear to have cleared up that mystery.
What action, if any, the NFL will now take is unclear. However, the Atlanta Falcons wrote that the team will cooperate fully with "any inquiries" from the NFL.
“Earlier in the week, Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, unintentionally came across the draft contact phone number for Shedeur Sanders off an open iPad while visiting his parent's home and wrote the number down to later conduct a prank call," The Falcons wrote in a statement posted to their X page on April 27.
"Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the data exposure or any facets of the prank and was made aware of the above only after the fact,” the Atlanta Falcons wrote.
“The Atlanta Falcons do not condone this behavior and send our sincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family, who we have been in contact with to apologize to, as well as facilitate an apology directly from Jax to the Sanders family," the statement continued.
"We have also been in contact with the NFL and will continue to cooperate fully with any inquiries we may receive from the NFL league office," the team wrote. "We are thoroughly reviewing all protocols, and updating if necessary, to help prevent an incident like this from happening again.”
During the prank, Sanders, who was at that point undrafted in a high-profile slide, received the phone call to his private number from a person "impersonating New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis," according to ESPN.
Jax Ulbrich apologized in an Instagram post, calling his actions "completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful" and directing the post toward Sanders.
"I'm so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish," Jax Ulbrich said in his Instagram post. "I could never imagine getting ready to celebrate one of the greatest moments of your life and I made a terrible mistake and messed with that moment. Thank you for accepting my call earlier today, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."