In a disheartening turn of events during the 2025 NFL Draft, Colorado safety Shilo Sanders became the target of a cruel prank. Believing the Houston Texans had drafted him, Sanders was later devastated to learn it was a hoax. This incident mirrored a similar prank played on his younger brother, Shedeur Sanders, highlighting concerns about data security and professionalism within the league.
Shilo Sanders Believed the Texans Drafted Him in Painful Prank Before Going Undrafted
While Sanders, a safety from Colorado and the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, was watching the 2025 NFL Draft unfold, he received a call of his own: He was told the Houston Texans selected him. This elated him, and he shared the news with his family and friends until he realised moments later that it was a prank. Going undrafted took an emotional toll.
🚨🚨THIS IS AWFUL🚨🚨
SHILO SANDERS RECEIVED A PRANK CALL THAT HE WAS BEING DRAFTED BY THE #TEXANS… He actually thought Houston could potentially draft him.
… Shilo continued to fall in the draft and went UNDRAFTED. His brother Shedeur was also pranked.
💔
(Via @realsteiny) pic.twitter.com/TsIWJtDBgH
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) April 30, 2025
“It was heartbreaking,” Sanders reportedly said, reflecting on the incident. “To think your dream has come true, only to have it snatched away—it was a cruel joke.” The prank affected his draft experience and raised questions about how his private contact information was accessed.
In the aftermath, Sanders made a decisive move by parting ways with his father as his agent, opting instead for renowned agent Drew Rosenhaus. “Dad was our agent,” Sanders mentioned during a livestream. “But that hasn’t been working out too well. So today I had to sign with an agent.” This change signified his intent to take control of his professional journey.
A Pattern of Pranks: Shedeur Sanders and Others Also Targeted
Sanders wasn’t the only one caught up in a strange situation. His brother, quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders, also became the target of a prank — and it was a pretty wild one. Someone pretending to be New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis called Shedeur, claiming the team was planning to draft him. It turns out the call was completely fake.
The person behind it? Jax Ulbrich is the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Jax later admitted he found Shedeur’s private number on an unsecured iPad at his parents’ house and made the call, calling it a “selfish and childish” mistake. The prank may have seemed like a joke at the time, but it’s being taken seriously — the NFL has already launched an investigation into the incident.
It wasn’t just the Sanders brothers dealing with prank calls during draft week. Other top prospects got hit, too. Penn State tight end Tyler Warren received a fake call right before he was picked 14th overall by the Colts. Meanwhile, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham had his phone number leaked in a TikTok video, which led to a wave of prank calls. Even with the chaos, Graham still went fifth overall to the Browns.
These incidents have raised some serious red flags for the NFL. The league only gave out players’ private phone numbers to select personnel, so how did this info end up in the wrong hands? Now, the NFL is looking hard at its data security policies. Experts are warning that these kinds of breaches could open the door to insider info being misused, even potentially for gambling, which could lead to major scandals if it’s not taken seriously.
KEEP READING: ‘These Aren’t Even Funny’ – Fans Disgusted with Another Draft Night Disaster As Isaiah Bond Hit With Sickening Prank Call
The pranks targeting the Sanders brothers during the 2025 NFL Draft underscore the vulnerabilities in the league’s communication protocols. Beyond personal embarrassment, these incidents highlight the need for the NFL to reinforce data security measures to protect its players and maintain the integrity of the draft process.
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