NFL reporter faces backlash for calling Jax Ulbrich a ‘good child’ amid Shedeur Sanders prank name incident

Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of the Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, prank-called Shedeur Sanders in the course of the Nationwide Soccer League (NFL) Draft on April 25. Sanders acquired a prank name on Friday from somebody pretending to be the overall supervisor of the New Orleans Saints, Mickey Loomis.
What did the NFL reporter remark?
The Athletic’s NFL reporter Zack Rosenblatt posted a quoted retweet on his X deal with relating to Jax’s behaviour, saying, “Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, launched an apology for his function within the Shedeur Sanders prank name. I’m advised he additionally reached out to the Sanders household on to apologize. By all accounts, Jax is an effective child who made a mistake and he’s doing what he can to carry himself accountable for what he did.”
How did netizens react?
This submit by Rosenblatt has been criticised by NFL followers throughout X, with one consumer saying “actually? simply warm-washing a cretinous prank as a result of the child apologized? like, positive, apologize, however he kicked somebody at their lowest low.”
One other consumer commented “Good ‘youngsters’ don’t steal confidential data, present it to another person w/ malicious intent, take part in a merciless joke, report it, AND add it to the web. Additionally, he’s a grown man. Don’t try to reduce what he did by infantilizing him”
A annoyed consumer additionally bashed Zack’s remark by saying “He is a 21 12 months previous grown grownup who made a bit of s*** selection. Additionally stole personal data by way of the work that his dad does. F*** outta right here calling him a child. S***bag.”
Ulbrich’s apology
Jax Ulbrich apologised for his behaviour on social media, saying “On Friday night time I made an incredible mistake. Sheduer, what I did was utterly inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful. I am so sorry I took away out of your second, it was egocentric and infantile. I may by no means think about on the brink of have fun one of many biggest moments of your life and I made a horrible mistake and messed with that second. Thanks for accepting my name earlier at the moment, I hope you will discover it in your coronary heart to forgive me.”
How did the Falcons react?
The Atlanta Falcons launched a press release afterward saying “Earlier within the week, Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, unintentionally got here throughout the draft contact cellphone quantity for Shedeur Sanders off an open iPad whereas visiting his guardian’s residence and wrote the quantity all the way down to later conduct a prank name. Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the information publicity or any sides of the prank and was made conscious of the above solely after the very fact. The Atlanta Falcons don’t condone this conduct and ship our honest apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his household, who we now have been involved with to apologize to, in addition to facilitate an apology immediately from Jax to the Sanders household.”