The NFL has issued significant fines to the Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich following a prank call made to prospect Shedeur Sanders during the recent NFL Draft.
The league fined the Falcons $250,000 and Ulbrich $100,000, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The disciplinary action comes after Ulbrich's son used information from his father's device to facilitate the call.
The prank call involved someone impersonating New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and telling Sanders he would be selected by the team. Sanders reportedly quickly realized it was a prank.
The incident resulted from the disclosure of confidential contact information provided to teams ahead of the draft. The league stated the fines were levied because the Falcons failed to prevent this disclosure.
Ulbrich's son, Jax, accessed Sanders' phone number from his father's open iPad. Jax Ulbrich has publicly apologized for his role in the matter.
The Falcons confirmed the NFL's punishment and released a statement accepting the discipline. The team stated they cooperated fully with the league's review.
The team added that the Ulbrich family is working with the organization on community service initiatives related to the matter. The Falcons also expressed confidence in their security policies and practices.
Sanders, a highly-regarded quarterback prospect, waited until the fifth round to be selected. He was ultimately picked 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns.
The NFL is investigating other reported prank calls made to prospects during the draft, though they are believed to be unrelated to the incident involving Jeff Ulbrich's family and Shedeur Sanders. Abdul Carter, Tyler Warren, and Kyle McCord were also reportedly among those who received similar calls.
