NFL

Stephen A. Smith Suggests Discipline For Jax Ulbrich After Shedeur Sanders Prank

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Dan Girolamo
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Dan Girolamo Sports Editor

Dan is a multifaceted content creator who specializes in sports, pop culture, and entertainment. His entertainment work has been featured on Digital Trends, where he has interviewed Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alison Brie, Adam DeVine, Sadie Sink, Chris O'Dowd, Machine Gun Kelly, and Frank Grillo. Dan's entertainment work has also been featured on Coming Soon, Hidden Remote, and WatchMojo. Dan's other passion in life revolves around sports, graduating from Marist College with a degree in Sports Communication and Journalism. From columns about the latest in New York sports to gambling predictions, Dan continues to find success in written and broadcast journalism. Previous written work can be found at Unafraid Show, while broadcast clips can be seen on WAVE.tv and CBS Sports.

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Published28 Apr 2025

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Stephen A. Smith talks on First Take.

Stephen A. Smith shared his blunt thoughts about how Jax Ulbrich should be disciplined for pranking Shedeur Sanders.

Stephen A. Smith Suggests Punishment For Jax Ulbrich

Sanders’ slide in the 2025 NFL Draft was the most talked-about story this weekend.

To make matters worse, Ulbrich and a friend pranked Sanders by impersonating New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. As Loomis, they told Sanders that the Saints would draft the quarterback with their next pick.

Ulbrich, the son of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, confessed to the cruel prank and apologized. However, Smith believes more needs to happen in terms of discipline.

“See, it’s not criminal. But it’s unethical. It’s classless. It’s amoral to some degree,” Smith said on First Take (via Awful Announcing). “And I’d like to see the face of that kid. Because sometimes you need to be embarrassed. That’s what needs to happen to you.”

Smith specifically said that Ulbrich needs to have his ass whooped.

“To Jeff Ulbrich, I sincerely hope he whipped his kid’s ass,” Smith ranted. “That’s an ass-whipping. That is a required ass-whipping.”

Smith absolved the father of any wrongdoing in the Sanders incident and blamed the son for the prank. Smith noted that Ulbrich could have cost his father the job with the Falcons, another reason to “whoop his ass.”

“Your dad could have lost his job! And because you want to prank somebody and be cruel and insensitive knowing what Shedeur must have been going through, you would be some privileged little brat that would do something like that,” Smith continued. “You should be ashamed of yourself. And you should have your ass whipped.”

Shedeur Sanders Prank Gone Wrong

The prank went viral on social media from both sides — a video of the kids making the call and a video of Sanders receiving the call and having a confused reaction.

Ulbrich released an apology to Sanders and said, “I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.” Sanders accepted Ulbrich’s call earlier in the day.

The Falcons said Ulbrich stole the number to Sanders’ private phone number off his father’s iPad. The Falcons will continue to investigate the matter.