Falcons fined 250K, coach 100K over prank call to Shedeur Sanders during NFL draft

The Atlanta Falcons were fined $250,000, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was penalized $100,000 due to a prank call involving Ulbrich’s son and NFL draft prospect Shedeur Sanders. The NFL confirmed these fines, highlighting the Falcons' failure to protect confidential information prior to the draft. In a statement, the Falcons accepted the penalties and vowed to strengthen their security protocols. Jax Ulbrich, 21, unintentionally accessed Sanders' contact number from an open iPad while visiting his parents' home. He later participated in the prank call, which occurred during the draft, when Sanders was awaiting his selection.

The Falcons issued apologies to Sanders and his family, while Jax also apologized publicly on social media. The NFL continues to investigate other prank calls made to players during the draft, including those to Tyler Warren and Kyle McCord. This incident underscores the importance of maintaining confidentiality in professional sports settings.