DENVER (KDVR) — Shedeur Sanders may not have had the NFL Draft nearly anyone anticipated, but he also wasn’t anticipating getting a prank phone call during Day 2 of the event.
Sanders, 23, was drafted in the fifth round on Saturday by the Cleveland Browns, but not before getting an odd phone call on Friday night while he was waiting for the big call.
In a video that was circulating on social media Saturday, Sanders can be seen talking on speaker phone to someone who identified themselves as Mickey Loomis, the New Orleans Saints general manager.
“It’s been a long wait, man,” the voice can be heard saying. “But you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer now. Sorry about that.”
Sanders appeared confused, asking those around him at his draft party, “What does that mean?”
On Sunday, the source of the phone call was revealed: Jax Ulbrich, 21, son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. ESPN reported the Atlanta Falcons provided a statement that described how Jax was visiting his parents’ home, came across an open iPad, and wrote the number down to conduct a prank call. The team said Jeff Ulbrich was “unaware of the data exposure or any facets of the prank” until after it occurred.
“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,” NFL insider Ian Rapaport shared from the team’s statement on X.
The NFL is also investigating the matter.
“On Friday night I made a tremendous mistake,” Jax wrote in a post on Instagram. “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,” Jax continued. “Thank you for accepting my call earlier today, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Sanders has not appeared to address the call publicly.
