Stephen A. Smith lashes out at Jeff Ulbrich’s son for prank calling Shedeur Sanders during NFL Draft: “I sincerely hope he whipped his kid’s…”

Stephen A. Smith criticized Jax Ulbrich’s prank on Shedeur Sanders, and called for stronger consequences during First Take.

Stephen A. Smith lashes out at Jeff Ulbrich’s son for prank calling Shedeur Sanders during NFL Draft: “I sincerely hope he whipped his kid’s…”

Jax Ulbrich (left), Jeff Ulbrich (right), Stephen A. Smith (circle) (Images via Imagn/Hudl/The New Yorker)

Shedeur Sanders‘ fall to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft had dominated major headlines last week. The once-first overall projected Colorado Buffs QB Sanders was skipped by teams on both Day One and Two before the Browns drafted him at 144th.

During the fallout, video footage surfaced showing Sanders being prank-called by two individuals impersonating New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis. The prank falsely led Sanders to believe he would be drafted earlier than reality. The Saints, who are looking to bolster their crumbling offense with a new and fresh face, was amongst one of the teams interested in Sanders.

Speculation had quickly pointed to Jax Ulbrich, son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, as one culprit. Over the weekend, Jax Ulbrich, 21, admitted he had participated in the prank call targeting Sanders. Ulbrich publicly apologized and issued a statement expressing remorse for his actions during the critical moment.

On Monday’s edition of First Take, Stephen A. Smith responded strongly to the situation, emphasizing that an apology was insufficient.

I sincerely hope he whipped his kid’s a**. That’s an a** whipping. That is a required a** whipping. Your dad could have lost his job! You should be ashamed of yourself. And you should have your a** whipped.

Stephen A. Smith said

Smith described the prank as unethical, classless, and potentially damaging to Jeff Ulbrich’s coaching career. His remarks added another layer of public backlash against Jax Ulbrich’s already-criticized actions.

Smith made clear he did not blame Jeff Ulbrich for his son’s actions, but criticized Jax Ulbrich’s immaturity. Smith also praised Shedeur Sanders for handling the prank with maturity, accepting Ulbrich’s apology, and moving forward without escalating tensions.

Atlanta Falcons, Jax Ulbrich issued apologies to Shedeur Sanders

The Atlanta Falcons promptly issued a public apology, condemning the prank and distancing Jeff Ulbrich from the incident entirely. According to team officials, Jeff Ulbrich had no prior knowledge of his son’s actions or the data breach involved.

Shedeur Sanders (4)
Shedeur Sanders (Image via AP)

“The Atlanta Falcons do not condone this behavior and send our sincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family, who we have been in contact with to apologize to, as well as facilitate an apology directly from Jax to the Sanders family,” the statement read.

The Falcons, however, will not be taking any action against the defensive coordinator.

Jax Ulbrich later posted a written apology on Instagram, describing the prank as “inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful.” He further confirmed he personally apologized to Sanders for the emotional disruption caused.

Sanders, recently drafted and now focused on his professional career, addressed the media with grace and maturity following the incident. Speaking with reporters, Sanders stated, “I don’t feed into negativity,” emphasizing his resolve to move forward constructively.

This incident has sparked broader conversations about privacy and ethical conduct during the NFL Draft process. The ease with which confidential information was accessed underscores the need for stricter information security protocols.

NFL officials are currently reviewing the matter and are expected to announce findings that may lead to new safeguards for future drafts. The league must ensure such events are never repeated by holding individuals and organizations accountable.

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