A Berry College football player, Jax Ulbrich, has come forward to admit responsibility for the cruel prank call that disrupted Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft night—an act that quickly spiraled into a national controversy.
Jax Ulbrich, https://berryvikings.com/sports/football/roster/jax-ulbrich/8719, a sophomore running back at Division III Berry College and the son of newly hired Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, publicly acknowledged on Sunday that he was behind the fake call that led Sanders and his family to believe he had finally been drafted.
“On Friday night I made a tremendous mistake,” Ulbrich posted on Instagram. “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 messed with that moment.”
The incident occurred during the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft. Sanders, who had anticipated being selected in the first round, received a call that appeared to be from an NFL team—only for it to turn out to be a hoax. The moment, captured on video, showed Sanders’ initial joy turn to confusion and disappointment.
The call was especially cruel because Sanders had changed his phone number specifically for draft night, making it difficult for anyone outside the NFL to have access. Suspicion quickly grew that someone with inside connections was involved.
When a video of the prank surfaced, online sleuths quickly identified Ulbrich as the caller. His status as a college athlete and son of an NFL coach only added fuel to the backlash.
“Thank you for accepting my call earlier today,” Ulbrich added in his apology. “I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
The Atlanta Falcons, where Ulbrich’s father now serves as defensive coordinator, released a statement acknowledging the situation and confirmed they were in contact with league officials regarding the matter.
Sanders, who was ultimately drafted in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th overall pick, has not yet made a public statement in response to the apology.
