At a time that should have been one of the proudest moments of his life, Shedeur Sanders became the latest victim of a growing and toxic trend: trolling.
As the University of Colorado quarterback waited anxiously to hear his name called during the NFL Draft, he received what he thought was a dream phone call. The caller, posing as the New Orleans Saints’ general manager, told Sanders he was about to be picked. Family and friends erupted with joy — only for the caller to reveal it was all a cruel prank.
The caller was later identified as Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. In a public Instagram apology, Jax admitted to the hoax, calling his actions “selfish and childish.” He expressed regret for stealing a once-in-a-lifetime moment from Sanders, writing, “I could never imagine getting ready to celebrate one of the greatest moments of your life and I made a terrible mistake and messed with that moment.”
The fallout has been swift. The Falcons organization condemned the behavior, explaining that Jax had stumbled upon Sanders’ private draft contact number on an unsecured iPad while visiting his parents. They emphasized that Jeff Ulbrich had no knowledge of the prank and that the team is cooperating with the NFL’s ongoing investigation into multiple prank calls made to draft hopefuls.
Not a Harmless Prank
While some might try to shrug off incidents like this as “harmless jokes,” the truth is they are anything but. Trolling—especially during high-stakes, emotional moments—reveals a deep disregard for basic decency. In this case, a young man, preparing to celebrate years of sacrifice and hard work, was made a target for someone else’s fleeting amusement.
Sanders’ measured response highlights the maturity the moment demanded: “Of course, I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody does childish things here and there.” His coach, Kevin Stefanski, was even more blunt, telling reporters, “People are morons would be my reaction to that.”
When Trolling Becomes Cruelty
The rise of “trolling culture” has created an environment where public humiliation is often treated as entertainment, and empathy is seen as optional. Moments like these aren’t just about one bad joke; they reveal a bigger problem — a desensitization to the feelings and dignity of others.
At its core, trolling trades another person’s pain for a quick laugh. It may feel harmless to the instigator, but it often leaves lasting harm on the victim. In Sanders’ case, it took nearly another 24 hours before he was finally picked by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round — a delay that surely made the earlier cruelty sting even more.
Time to Grow Up
There’s a line between youthful mistakes and a culture that celebrates tearing people down for fun. Incidents like this should remind us all: success, hope, and personal milestones deserve respect — not ridicule.
The Falcons have pledged to tighten their security protocols. The NFL has launched a broader review into other reported prank calls during the draft. And many fans are left wondering: how did we get to a place where humiliating someone at one of the most meaningful moments of their life is considered entertainment?
Until society takes trolling for what it really is — a form of cruelty — we will keep seeing promising moments stolen by selfish impulses. It’s long past time we demanded better.
Related: Matthew Golden Breaks Packers’ Draft Curse, Then Melts Hearts With First Purchase Plan
