Sports
Leicester's fall from grace: From Premier League champions to relegation to League One
Leicester City faces relegation to League One after a tumultuous season.
ESPN News1 min read
NFL
NFL tightens draft contact rules after Shedeur Sanders prank call
TL;DR
The NFL is tightening draft contact rules following a prank call incident involving Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 draft. Access to prospects' contact information will now be limited to one designated person per team.
Key points
- NFL tightens draft contact rules after Shedeur Sanders prank call
- Access to prospects' contact info limited to one person per team
- Sanders was a victim of a prank call during the 2025 draft
Mentioned in this story
Shedeur SandersNew Orleans SaintsCleveland Browns
About a year ago, during the 2025 NFL draft, Shedeur Sanders was the victim of a prank call, and now the league is tightening things up ahead of the 2026 draft.
On Monday, the league announced it is limiting access to prospects' contact information to only one person in each organization.
"The relevant contact information will be provided by the league to a single point of contact at the club in football operations," a league spokesman told The Athletic. "This individual will be responsible for safeguarding the numbers."
Sanders, widely perceived as a first-round pick, fell to the fifth round with multiple quarterbacks going ahead of him. In the second round, he received a call from someone impersonating New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. The Saints instead drafted quarterback Tyler Shough, and Sanders fell to the fifth round and was taken by the Cleveland Browns.
The prank caller was eventually outed as the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who found Sanders' number on an iPad. The NFL fined Ulbrich and the Falcons over the number leak. Sanders, who was livestreaming his entire draft weekend, was filmed answering the call, but later said it did not affect him.
The 2026 NFL draft begins Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Fans can tune in on the NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.
Q&A
What prank call incident involved Shedeur Sanders during the NFL draft?
Shedeur Sanders received a prank call from someone impersonating New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis during the 2025 NFL draft.
How will the NFL's new contact rules affect draft prospects?
The NFL's new rules will limit access to prospects' contact information to a single point of contact within each organization to enhance security.
What impact did the prank call have on Shedeur Sanders' draft position?
Due to the prank call and other factors, Shedeur Sanders, initially seen as a first-round pick, was ultimately drafted in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns.
