April 28, 2025
The son, Jax Ulbrich, publicly admitted to prank calling Sanders whereas he waited to be chosen within the NFL draft.
The son of the Atlanta Falcons Protection Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has admitted to and apologized for a prank calling made to Shedeur Sanders through the NFL draft.
Jax Ulbrich admitted to having access to Sanders’ quantity, a line completely made to contact NFL groups, by means of his father’s iPad. He then used the knowledge to prank name Sanders as he awaited to be picked through the draft. Ulbrich, recognized as a 21-year-old student-athlete at Berry School by the Occasions of India, shared his public apology to Instagram.
“On Friday night time I made an amazing mistake. Sheduer (sic), what I did was fully inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful,” Ulbrich wrote. “I’m so sorry I took away out of your second, it was egocentric and infantile. I may by no means think about on the brink of rejoice one of many biggest moments of your life and I made a horrible mistake and messed with that second.”
He then confirmed that he referred to as Sanders once more, this time in a non-pranking means, to apologize for his actions.
He added, “Thanks for accepting my name earlier at present, I hope you’ll find it in your coronary heart to forgive me.”
In a clip of the prank name launched by Nicely Off Media, owned by Sanders’ brother, Deion Jr., Ulbrich posed because the New Orleans Saints’ common supervisor. CNN reported the dialog that went viral.
Ulbrich, then nameless, advised Sanders, “We’re going to take you with our subsequent choose proper right here.”
Sanders proceeded to rejoice with family and friends till Ulbrich revealed the false nature of the decision.
“However you’re going to have to attend a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that,” Ulbrich mentioned and hung up.
The information made headlines because it added to the media frenzy surrounding Sanders’ extended choice within the draft. As soon as initially thought of to be a first-round choose, the quarterback went unselected till the later rounds. The Cleveland Browns finally chosen him within the fifth spherical because the 144th general choose.
Nevertheless, the 23-year-old revealed that the prank name didn’t “have an effect” on his emotions. As a substitute, he referred to as the matter “infantile” whereas selecting to stay optimistic through the multi-day draft.
His father, NFL Corridor of Famer and present College of Colorado Soccer head coach Deion Sanders, has but to make an announcement. Sanders performed below his father at Jackson State for 2 years earlier than finishing one other two seasons at Colorado.
The outgoing father-and-son duo have sparked an intense debate within the sports activities neighborhood for a way their unabashed personalities could have performed a job in Sanders’ rising NFL profession. The problem, given their standing as profitable Black males, additionally cast some conspiracies on the NFL’s alleged strategies of humbling Black gamers.
The Falcons, nevertheless, apologized to the Sanders over the prank name, whereas additionally stating that the elder Ulbrich didn’t know of the “information publicity.”
“Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the info publicity or any aspects of the prank and was made conscious of the above solely after the very fact,” wrote the franchise in an announcement. “The Atlanta Falcons don’t condone this conduct and ship our honest apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his household, who we’ve got been involved with to apologize to, in addition to facilitate an apology immediately from Jax to the Sanders household.”
The Falcons additionally acknowledged that they’ll work with the NFL as they proceed to research the scenario. The league additionally advised CNN that they’ll examine different prank calls made to draftees.
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