USA Today reporter says Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich won’t escape son’s prank call to Shedeur Sanders

The NFL and those around it are still coming to terms with the actions of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s son, Jax, who prank-called Shedeur Sanders during the draft.

Ulbrich, who served as the New York Jets’ interim head coach for most of last season, has yet to coach a down for the Falcons and is already playing damage control.

USA Today’s Nate Davis now says that Ulbrich will have a difficult time ever escaping what will most likely be remembered as a draft moment that lives in infamy.

“Moving forward, Ulbrich will forever be linked to Jax's sad hoax — go ahead and add it to the list of the draft’s most infamous moments — and can only hope his coaching career ultimately supersedes it,” Davis wrote.

“We have to take this on the chin,” Jeff Ulbrich said. “And we absolutely are doing that — taking full responsibility — and I am hopeful we will grow and be better because of it.”

After a video leaked of Jax and a friend prank-calling Sanders, it didn’t take long for the NFL to investigate and eventually hand down punishment. Not only did Ulbrich receive a $100,000 fine for his son’s actions, the Falcons were also fined $250,000.

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Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio questioned whether even that was too lenient, although he noted there is no precedent for such actions.

Jax, 21, reportedly obtained Sanders’ phone number from his father’s iPad. Contact information for Sanders and other prospects was distributed to coaches across the league prior to the draft.

Davis goes on to say that in light of everything, it’s now a time to support Ulbrich, who was placed in one of the most difficult situations for any parent.

“But in the interim, I hope Ulbrich is able to be at his best as a parent amid obviously unenviable circumstances. His son needs him more than ever,” Davis wrote.

As for his coaching career, the Falcons made a concerted effort to strengthen their defense in his first year during the draft, selecting edge rushers Jalon Walker from Georgia and James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee.