Atlanta Falcons Fined for Prank Call Incident During NFL Draft
The Atlanta Falcons have been fined $250,000, and their defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich, has been fined $100,000. This is a result of Ulbrich’s son participating in a prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the NFL draft.
The NFL confirmed the fines on Wednesday for the roles the Falcons and Ulbrich played in failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL draft.
Incident Details
The Falcons disclosed that Ulbrich’s 21-year-old son, Jax, was involved in the prank call as Sanders was waiting for his name to be called in the draft. The Falcons said on Wednesday that they accept the discipline from the league.
“We appreciate the NFL’s swift and thorough review of last week’s data exposure and the event that transpired due to it,” the Falcons said in a statement.
Response and Apologies
“We were proactive in addressing the situation internally and cooperated fully with the league throughout the process, and accept the discipline levied to Coach Jeff Ulbrich and the organization. We are confident in our security policies and practices and will continue to emphasize adherence to them with our staff whether on or off premises.”
The Falcons also stated that the Ulbrich family “is working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives in relation to last week’s matter.”
How the Prank Call Happened
On Sunday, the Falcons explained in a statement that Jax 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.”
Jax Ulbrich was sitting beside an unidentified friend who actually made the call to Sanders on Friday, the second day of the draft. Sanders, a standout quarterback from Colorado, is the son of Buffaloes coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who began his NFL career with the Falcons.
Impact on Shedeur Sanders
Sanders, who entered the draft expecting to be a first-round pick, was selected Saturday in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns.
The Falcons said Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the data exposure or the prank until after the fact. The team offered “sincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family.” Jax Ulbrich also posted a public apology on social media.
Ongoing Investigation
The NFL continues to investigate prank calls made to other players during the NFL draft. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the call to Shedeur Sanders wasn’t related to the other prank calls.
Tyler Warren, Kyle McCord, Mason Graham, and Chase Lundt also have reported receiving prank calls.
Find more NFL coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Cowboys
Related: Prank calls to other players unrelated to the one received by Shedeur Sanders, AP source says
Conclusion
The prank call incident during the NFL draft has resulted in significant fines for the Atlanta Falcons and their defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich. The team and the Ulbrich family have apologized and are taking steps to prevent such incidents in the future. The NFL’s investigation into prank calls made to other players is ongoing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened during the NFL draft?
A: The Atlanta Falcons’ defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s son, Jax, made a prank call to Shedeur Sanders, a potential draft pick, using a confidential phone number he found on an open iPad at his parent’s home.
Q: What were the consequences of the prank call?
A: The Atlanta Falcons were fined $250,000, and Jeff Ulbrich was fined $100,000. The team and the Ulbrich family apologized for the incident.
Q: Is the NFL investigating other prank calls?
A: Yes, the NFL is investigating prank calls made to other players during the NFL draft. However, the call to Shedeur Sanders was not related to the other prank calls.
Q: How has Shedeur Sanders been affected by the incident?
A: Shedeur Sanders was selected in the fifth round of the draft by the Cleveland Browns, despite expecting to be a first-round pick. He and his family received apologies from the Falcons and Jax Ulbrich.
