NFL Investigating Shedeur Sanders Situation
Shedeur Sanders endured a long and unexpected fall in the NFL Draft this week as the projected first-round pick was not selected until the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. In addition to the longer-than-expected wait to be drafted, Sanders was also the victim of a cruel prank that has now sparked an NFL investigation.
While waiting to be selected on Friday, Sanders received a call from someone he claimed they were the general manager for the New Orleans Saints who informed him they were going to select him with their next pick.
"It's Mickey Loomis here, GM of the Saints," the person said on the phone.
"Been waiting on you," Sanders responded with a smile.
"It's been a long wait, man. We're going to take you with our next pick right here, man," the person on the phone said.
"Yes, sir. Let's be legendary," Sanders responded.
That smile quickly turned to confusion when the caller told him that he would “have to wait a little longer,” and ended the call.
The prank was carried out by Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Jax accessed Sanders' phone number via an open iPad while visiting his parent’s home and wrote the number down to pull off the prank.
Jax has since apologized for his actions.
"On Friday night I made a tremendous mistake," Jax stated in his apology. "Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful. I'm so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish.
"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."
The situation has sparked an NFL investigation into the matter, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
An NFL official said the league is looking into how Shedeur Sanders’ private number was leaked and then used for this prank call: pic.twitter.com/h5P1CIIQlI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2025
While Sanders was the most high-profile player to receive a prank call during the NFL Draft, he was certainly not the only one. A student at Alabama prank-called Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond posing as Falcons GM Terry Fontenot. Penn State tight end Tyler Warren reportedly received a prank call on Thursday night while the Jets were on the clock with the No. 7 pick. Offensive tackle Chase Lundt told reporters he received “four or five” prank calls during the draft before he was ultimately selected by the Buffalo Bills.
It's worth noting that a spokesperson for the Atlanta Falcons told Front Office Sports that Jax Ulbrich was not tied to the other prank calls, which means that the NFL had multiple breaches in its security this draft cycle.
We'll have to see what the league determines in its investigation and whether or not it does anything different next year.