NFL Investigates Prank Calls Targeting Draft Players, Including Shedeur Sanders

During the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders, a former Colorado quarterback and son of Deion Sanders, received a widely publicized prank call from Jax Ulbrich, the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. The incident, which occurred as Sanders awaited selection after an unexpected drop to the fifth round, highlighted concerns about the NFL’s handling of player contact information. Adam Schefter and other insiders noted that Sanders' decision to forgo a traditional agent and use his father as his representative contributed to his personal phone number being distributed more broadly, increasing the risk of such incidents. The Falcons and Jax Ulbrich issued public apologies, and the NFL has initiated an investigation into the prank call and the broader issue of player privacy. Other draft prospects, including Josh Conerly Jr. and several others, also reported receiving prank calls, raising questions about fairness and professionalism during a critical moment in their careers. The league’s protocols for sharing player contact information, especially for those without formal representation, are now under scrutiny.