In a significant turn of events following the NFL’s decision to impose fines on the Atlanta Falcons, the league has created a narrative suggesting that the Falcons were responsible for disclosing Shedeur Sanders's phone number to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. However, this representation is misleading. In reality, the NFL directly communicated this information to Ulbrich.
The incident began on April 23, when the NFL sent a memo to all general managers, head coaches, player personnel directors, and club IT directors. This memo contained a list of 45 player phone numbers, which included 16 players attending the draft in person, 24 players participating virtually (among them, Sanders), and five players who were part of the 2025 International Player Pathway Program. Notably, this memo was marked as “Confidential.”
If the memo had been the only communication containing Sanders’s phone number, one could argue that the Falcons were at fault for sharing confidential information with Ulbrich. However, the situation is more complex. After the confidential memo was sent, the NFL issued a separate email that reached a broader audience.
This additional email, which was sent to all recipients of the NFL’s daily transaction report, inadvertently included coaches and assistant coaches, including Ulbrich. This email did not emphasize the confidentiality of the information contained within it. Instead, it stated, “Shedeur Sanders has informed the NFL Player Personnel Department that he has a new cell phone number beginning today.” The email then provided the new number.
It’s essential to note that Ulbrich’s son subsequently contacted Sanders. This raises the likelihood that he used the new number provided in the email. Since Ulbrich received this email directly, it is clear that he had access to the information through official NFL channels, rather than through any inappropriate sharing by the Falcons.
In light of these facts, it is important to disregard any narratives suggested by the NFL or allied media outlets that imply the Falcons are to blame for the information leak. Ulbrich obtained Shedeur Sanders’s phone number directly from the NFL through an email that was disseminated to a larger audience than necessary. The situation illustrates the complexities of information sharing within the league and the importance of clarity in communication.
