After the Prank: Shedeur Sanders Heads to the NFL, but the Fallout Continues
Even after public apologies, calls for accountability grow louder after a prank targeting Sanders on one of the biggest days of his life.
Shedeur Sanders’ NFL dream has come true. Over the weekend, the Cleveland Browns selected him in the fifth round with the 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Sanders, son of Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, joins a competitive quarterback room that includes Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Although projections once placed him as a potential early-round pick, concerns during pre-draft evaluations reportedly contributed to his fall to the fifth round. Still, Sanders' resilience earned him widespread praise, and his professional football career is now officially underway.
However, during draft weekend, Sanders was the target of a prank that many folks say we can’t let slide.
In a video that quickly circulated online, Sanders answered a call from someone falsely claiming to be New Orleans Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis, congratulating him—only to realize later it was a hoax: “This is Mickey Loomis here, GM of the Saints...Going to take you with our next pick right here, man.” Then, the caller added, “Hey, but you're going to have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that.” Sanders is heard asking, “What does that mean?” while some of his family and friends say, “Did they just troll, bro?” and “Man, he just got trolled, bro.”
The call came through on Sanders’ official draft phone, a line distributed only to NFL teams and a player's trusted inner circle to ensure communications remain secure. This immediately led to speculation that either someone from Sanders’ camp or an NFL affiliate leaked the number.
Children of NFL Figures Linked to Prank Call
The individuals behind the prank call released a video of themselves calling Sanders, capturing the moment they impersonated the Saints' GM. Social media users identified and began trying to link Sydney Schoen, a student at the University of Mississippi (also known as Ole Miss) and the daughter of New York Giants General Manager Joe Schoen, to the incident. Schoen’s Instagram profile, which publicly lists her affiliation with Ole Miss and the Delta Gamma sorority, allegedly showed her liking comments related to the prank.
“Showing they face is bold,” one commenter wrote. “You already went viral and already got your laughs. But the world just had to know it was y’all.”
Soon after, allegations also surfaced implicating Jax Ulbrich, son of Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, in the prank.
On Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons issued a formal statement confirming that Ulbrich was responsible for the prank call to Sanders. According to the Falcons, Jax found Sanders’ draft contact number on an open iPad while visiting his parents’ home and later used it to make the call. The Falcons stated that Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the prank and apologized to Sanders and his family, saying the organization does not “condone such behavior.”
They also confirmed that they are “in contact with the NFL” and are reviewing their internal protocols. Ulbrich also posted a public apology on Instagram, calling his actions “completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful” and thanked Sanders for accepting his personal apology call earlier that day.
Should We Let This Go Now?
Many have noted that impersonating an NFL executive and making prank calls to a private draft number could violate state laws and telecommunications regulations. Given that the call involved misuse of NFL insider access, criminal exposure could follow. In addition to possible criminal charges, Sanders could pursue civil action for emotional distress or interference with prospective professional opportunities.
As of now, no legal action has been announced.
Although Sanders has officially been drafted and a public apology has been issued, many people are still not letting up on this incident and believe the Sanders family should take legal action. Some also said that the parents, who are both linked to NFL teams, should be held accountable as well.
“Give this kid jail,” one user posted. Another wrote, “His dad should be fired for the security breach. He cannot be trusted with sensitive information.” And others questioned the sincerity of the apology: “You can really tell an apology is sincere when they misspell the name of the person to whom they are apologizing,” another added.
Meanwhile, some critics argued that it’s not that serious: “Potential NFL draft players get Pranked every year. It’s not majorly talked about at all. “I think, he adds, “they’re trying to make this a bigger story than it should be to take the heat off of Sanders for how bad he did in interviews.”
Now that Sanders has achieved his NFL dream, should we chalk it up to a bad moment and move on—or should a precedent be set that this kind of public attack shouldn’t be tolerated?
13 & South is a new publication covering news, investigative stories, and insights on social justice, policy, and systemic inequities impacting Southern Black communities. I value your insights, and feedback and invite your perspectives to contribute to future issues. Please feel free to contact me here or follow me on my socials! LinkedIn, Twitter, IG, BlueSky, and Threads.
Those spoiled-ass children think it is “hilarious” to taunt a Black man with fake news about his professional future.
I still don't understand the slide. One person I heard said it was because he seemed "entitled" during his pre-draft interviews. If it wasn't skill-related, then that's complete bull shit. What is the rub against Deion and Shedeur? They seem too cocky? I've never had a problem with Deion when he was a player. What in the hell has he done, other than personify an image and confidence that is so wrong? What am I missing here?