The viral prank call that fooled Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft has stirred up major debate online — and now one of the most iconic pranksters in pop culture is weighing in.
Johnny Brennan, the creator of The Jerky Boys, spoke exclusively with TMZ Sports and shared his perspective on the now-infamous phone hoax that briefly tricked Sanders into thinking he’d been drafted earlier than he actually was. While Brennan admits the prank was “kinda funny,” he also emphasized that it crossed a line his legendary comedy duo always avoided.
The Jerky Boys’ Golden Rule: Never Crush Dreams
Known for their over-the-top prank calls throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s, The Jerky Boys became cult favorites for their hilarious, off-the-wall scenarios. But Brennan says there was one line they never crossed — messing with moments that could make or break someone’s dreams.
“We never would’ve done something like that,” Brennan said. “The fun came from absurd, ridiculous conversations — not from misleading someone waiting for the biggest call of their life.”
Brennan recalled some of the most outlandish bits from The Jerky Boys, including one sketch where a caller pretended to try out for the New York Yankees after placing a fake ad in the paper. “It was always about being bizarre, not cruel,” he explained.
The Draft Day Prank That Sparked Backlash
During the second half of the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders — son of NFL Hall of Famer and Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders — received what he thought was an official call from an NFL team. Instead, it turned out to be a prank orchestrated by Jax Ulbrich, son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
The joke, meant to be a light-hearted stunt, quickly turned sour as fans and analysts criticized the timing and tone. Sanders, like many other draftees, had spent the weekend on edge, anxiously awaiting the moment his NFL dreams would become reality.
Eventually, Shedeur was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th overall pick, but the moment was clouded by the earlier fake-out.
Brennan Says People Should “Lighten Up” — But Still Use Judgment
While Brennan believes the prank wasn’t necessarily malicious, he does agree with critics that the situation could’ve been handled better.
“Some folks could definitely use a chill pill — it wasn’t the end of the world,” Brennan said. “But when you’re dealing with someone’s future, it’s important to have a little more sensitivity.”
He also noted that part of the outrage comes from how personal and emotional the draft process is for young athletes, especially those with high expectations like Sanders.
Sanders Has Moved On — And So Has the Internet (Sorta)
To his credit, Shedeur Sanders seems to have taken the prank in stride. Reports say he spoke with Jax Ulbrich the following Sunday, and that Jax offered a sincere apology for the stunt. Sources close to Sanders say he’s moved past the incident and is now focused on his future with the Browns.
However, Sanders wasn’t the only one pranked — other prospects were also targeted by similar stunts during the three-day draft event, raising concerns about how social media and personal connections are being used to interfere in one of the most emotional weekends of an athlete’s life.
Final Thoughts: Laughs Are Good — Timing Is Everything
Johnny Brennan’s input reminds us that comedy is all about context and intent. While prank culture continues to evolve with TikTok and Instagram creators pushing the limits, Brennan’s old-school wisdom still holds weight.
“It’s not about being soft,” he said. “It’s about knowing when a joke is funny and when it’s just bad timing.”
In the case of Shedeur Sanders, the world laughed — some harder than others — but hopefully learned something in the process.
