ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons have been fined $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been fined $100,000 as the result of Ulbrichโs son participating in a prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the NFL draft.
The NFL confirmed the fines on Wednesday for the roles by the Falcons and Ulbrich in failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL draft.
The Falcons, who disclosed the role of Ulbrichโs 21-year-old son Jax in the prank call as Sanders was waiting for his name to be called in the draft, said they accept the discipline from the league.
โWe appreciate the NFLโs swift and thorough review of last weekโs data exposure and the event that transpired due to it,โ the Falcons said in a statement.
โWe 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.โ
The Falcons also said the Ulbrich family โis working with the organization to participate in community service initiatives in relation to last weekโs matter.”
On Sunday, the Falcons said in a statement that Jax Ulbrich โunintentionally came across the draft contact phone number for Shedeur Sanders off an open iPad while visiting his parentโs home and wrote the number down to later conduct a prank call.โ
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.
Sanders, who entered the draft expecting to be a first-round pick, wasย selected Saturday in the fifth roundย 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 โsincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family.โ Jax Ulbrich also posted a public apology on social media.
The NFL continues to investigate prank calls made to other players during the NFL draft. The Associated Press reported Tuesday the call to Shedeur Sandersย wasnโt relatedย to the other prank calls.
Tyler Warren, Kyle McCord, Mason Graham and Chase Lundt also have reported receiving prank calls.
