Introduction: The Prank Call Incident
Jax Ulbrich prank call: In a bizarre incident during the NFL draft, Jax Ulbrich, son of Falcons’ coach, pranks Shedeur Sanders. The call caused confusion as Sanders, awaiting selection by an NFL team, thought he was hearing from the New Orleans Saints. However, it was a hoax. This event led to an apology from Jax Ulbrich, who took to social media to express his regret.
The Prank Call
The prank took place just before the NFL draft. Shedeur Sanders, the son of Colorado coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, was anxiously awaiting to hear which team would select him. Mickey Loomis, the general manager of the Saints, allegedly called him to let him know he would be selected shortly. But when Ulbrich, pretending to be Loomis, informed Sanders that the selection would be postponed, the call swiftly changed course. Sanders was left perplexed, not knowing what was happening.
Shedeur’s brother, Deion Sanders Jr., recorded the prank and posted it online, where it swiftly gained widespread attention. Particularly at a significant event like the NFL draft, the incident attracted a lot of attention and generated discussions regarding the morality of such practical jokes.
Jax Ulbrich’s Apology
On Sunday, Jax Ulbrich issued a public apology via Instagram, acknowledging his actions as a mistake. He expressed regret for taking away from Shedeur Sanders’ moment and recognized that it was selfish and childish.
Ulbrich’s Apology
“On Friday night I made a tremendous mistake. Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful. I’m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish. I could never imagine getting ready to celebrate one of the greatest moments of your life and I made a terrible mistake and messed with that moment. Thank you for accepting my call earlier today, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
The Falcons’ Statement
The Atlanta Falcons quickly issued a statement clarifying how Jax Ulbrich obtained Shedeur Sanders’ private number. According to the Falcons, Ulbrich had come across the number by accident while visiting his parents’ home. He later wrote it down, intending to conduct the prank call. The team made it clear that they do not condone such behavior and have reached out to Sanders’ family to offer an apology.
Falcons Statement
“Earlier in the week, Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of defensive coordinator Jeff 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. Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the data exposure or any facets of the prank and was made aware of the above only after the fact.”
NFL’s Reaction and Investigation
The NFL also weighed in on the situation. They confirmed that they were looking into the prank calls made to other draft prospects.Shedeur Sanders and Kevin Stefanski, the head coach of the Browns, both made comments on the hoax, but Sanders played down its effect on him. Stefanski, on the other hand, responded more bluntly, referring to the occurrence as “silly.”
The NFL is working with the Falcons organization to deal with the problem responsibly, and the organization is examining its procedures to avoid such instances in the future.
To sum up
Jax Ulbrich’s public apology has been a positive move, even though the prank call definitely interfered with Shedeur Sanders’ draft experience. The NFL is currently investigating if other players were subjected to similar pranks. The occasion reminds draft aspirants of the challenges and expectations they face at what should be one of the most exciting periods of their lives.
Source: CNN