Sports
NFL investigating phone calls but prankgate looks to be partially league's own doing
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The NFL began supplying select draft prospects with single-purpose phones, but that has become a problem for the players, teams, and, yes, the league itself, because the numbers are being leaked with unacceptable frequency now.
You know about the leak of Shedeur Sanders’ phone number. That one was quite public and ultimately easy to solve.
Sanders Phone Provided By NFL
It was all over social media and Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich had Sanders’ number, supplied to him via email from the NFL, and that somehow got into the hands of his 21-year-old son Jax, who then facilitated a viral prank call to Sanders.
Oct 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
What you may not know is that the phone Sanders got the call on was not his own. It was provided by the NFL only days prior to the draft.
Even Sanders said in one of his released videos of the incident that the phone “ain’t in my name.”
Added Sanders: “I just got this phone yesterday.”
That’s true because the NFL provided the phone so that teams could be certain of immediately reaching Sanders and other prospects and not have lines of communication crossed while prospects might have otherwise been on their personal phones – perhaps communicating with friends and family or simply in a dead cell zone.
NFL Provides Phones To Help TV
And here’s the kicker: The NFL began supplying these single-purpose phones to make sure its draft telecasts were not awkwardly interrupted or turned uncomfortable with phone calls that didn’t reach the players, a former league official told OutKick on Thursday.
So, basically, the league provided phones for select prospects to make sure the calls got through at the exact moment teams needed them and the exact moment television partners wanted them to get the calls on air to keep their broadcasts humming.
WHO IS JORDON HUDSON? GIRLFRIEND STIRRING CONTROVERSY, BUILDING WEALTH WITH LEGENDARY COACH BILL BELICHICK
Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos quarterback Shedeur Sanders prior to the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
The NFL provided the phones and then provided an estimated 2,000 NFL and club employees with the numbers via email, multiple sources confirmed.
If this doesn’t seem like an inefficient way of making sure an NFL draft broadcast delivers the iconic prospect-answering-the-call-from-the-team moment, then consider these facts:
Sanders was one of a double-digit number of prospects – some who have not been publicly identified – who got prank calls on their league-issued phones, one league source estimated Thursday.
NFL Needs To Investigate Its Own Role
The NFL has been mum about this subject other than to say it is investigating.
That’s ironic because one supposes the investigation by the NFL would have to begin with none other than the NFL itself.
Did the league send out the numbers to an unnecessarily wide group of people? That’s possible because not only did general managers, their staff and coaches get the numbers, but secondary staffers and some media did as well, a source said.
So public relations people, non-football executives, even some equipment managers and training staff may have gotten the delivered list of numbers.
The league may have to pare the list of people who get the numbers to its single-purpose phones in the future because, well, it’s got a problem that it doesn’t like.
And one reason the NFL doesn’t like this problem is because it’s gone public.
In this draft alone, we know the list of players who received prank phone calls prior to being selected includes: Sanders, Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter, Browns defensive tackle Mason Graham, Colts tight end Tyler Warren, Commanders offensive lineman Josh Conerly, Bills offensive lineman Chase Lundt and Eagles quarterback Kyle McCord.
FORMER NFL STAR STEVE SMITH SR FACES LAWSUIT OVER ALLEGED AFFAIR UNDER UNUSUAL STATE LAW: REPORT
NFL Commissioner points out New York Giants fans to edge rusher Abdul Carter after the Giants select Carter with the third pick during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The draft runs through April 26. (Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
Source: Double-Digit Prospects Affected
There are others, according to a source.
“I got a few prank calls earlier in the day from 609 numbers and 215 numbers, so I’m like, alright, when I got that 215 phone call, I was thinking it was another prank call,” McCord told Philadelphia area reporters. “But picking up the phone and having [general manager] Howie [Roseman] on the other side, it was pretty cool.”
McCord actually got multiple prank calls before the draft even began. There were so many that when the legitimate call came from the Eagles, he expected it to be another prank.
“I didn’t really think it was going to be legit, to be honest, because I got a bunch of 215 calls obviously leading up to the draft,” McCord said. “And, you know, obviously, sitting there anxious to see what area code pops up and it was 215.
“So, I’m thinking, you know, I don’t know who it was going to be. And then I picked up the phone. I said, ‘Hello,’ and then to hear Howie’s voice on the other side, alright, not what I expected, but I was super pumped that it happened.”
Prank phone calls are as old as, well, phone calls themselves.
And they’re not new to the NFL, either.
Pranks Not New But More Problematic
In 2013, two 20-year-olds somehow got then-Bills general manager Buddy Nix and then-Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik on a conference call. And, amazingly, during the call, the two GMs proceeded to discuss free agency plans for six full minutes.
Oct 9, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) warms up prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. (Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports)
Yes, funny, but not for the player that was primarily discussed: Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
But the 2025 NFL draft seems to be the boiling point for the league on prank calls.
Expect some changes in how it handles the distribution of the numbers, the former league employee speculated, even if its own investigation finds nothing wrong with its actions.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Sports
Austin Reaves nearing return for Lakers as Luka Doncic remains out indefinitely with hamstring strain: report
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
In early April, with just five games remaining in the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that star guard Luka Doncic would be sidelined at least until the NBA playoffs.
Doncic’s setback was a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, an MRI confirmed. The reigning NBA scoring champion sustained the injury during an April 2 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers also entered the playoffs without another key member of their backcourt, Austin Reaves.
The shorthanded Lakers upset the Houston Rockets in the opening game of their first-round Western Conference series Saturday. Ahead of Game 2 on Tuesday, the Lakers reportedly received a clearer update on the health of at least one of their injured stars.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves brings the ball up court against the Washington Wizards in Los Angeles on March 30, 2026. (Ryan Sun/AP)
Reaves, who was diagnosed with an oblique strain, appears to be progressing toward a return later in the first-round series if it extends to six or seven games. If the Lakers advance sooner, he could be on track to return for the Western Conference semifinals.
According to ESPN, Reaves recently returned to the practice court for 1-on-1 drills. The 27-year-old will still need to progress to 2-on-3 and then 5-on-5 work before he can be cleared for playoff action, but he appears significantly further along than Doncic, who remains out indefinitely.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on March 21, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Doncic is unlikely to play in the first round, regardless of the series length. ESPN footage showed him on the practice court on Tuesday, though the six-time All-Star was not doing high-intensity work.
2025-26 NBA PLAYOFF ODDS: SPREADS, LINES FOR FIRST-ROUND SERIES
The Rockets, despite being widely favored in the opening round playoffs series, also contended with key injuries. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 with a knee contusion. He was cleared to play in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. shoots the ball against the Lakers during Game 1 in the NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on April 18, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
LeBron James scored 19 points, while Luke Kennard led Los Angeles with 27 in Saturday’s win.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Watching junior right-hander Fabian Bravo of Sun Valley Poly High pitch for the first time, there was something strangely familiar about his windup.
When he turned his back to reveal he was wearing No. 32, everything made sense.
He had to be a fan of Sandy Koufax, the 1960s Hall of Fame left-hander for the Dodgers.
Two friends sitting next to me refused to believe it.
“No way,” one said.
“Kids today have never heard of Sandy Koufax,” another piped in.
Only after Bravo threw a three-hit shutout to beat North Hollywood 3-0 was my belief vindicated.
“I come into the back with my arms and it’s a little bit like a Sandy Koufax kind of thing,” he said. “I wear 32 too. He was the starting pitcher for the Dodgers and was good in the World Series.”
Koufax was perfect-game good on Sept. 9, 1965, against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium, striking out 14.
Bravo started learning about No. 32 when his parents would bring him to Dodger Stadium as a young boy.
“I always saw No. 32 retired on the wall,” he said. “Once I got to know him, I was able to see who he really was. I felt I could really copy him and get myself deeper into history.”
Bravo is no Koufax in terms of being a power pitcher. He’s 5 feet 10 and 140 pounds. Since last season, when he changed his windup to briefly emulate Koufax’s arms going above his head, he has a 12-3 record. This season he’s 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA.
“I saw his windup and he looked like he was calm and composed and I tried it. I felt more of a rhythm. I was able to calm down and pitch better,” he said.
After Bravo’s arms go up over his head in his windup, he also does a brief hesitation breathing in and out before throwing the ball toward home plate.
“My dad always taught me to breathe in, breathe out before I do anything,” he said.
Nowadays, teenagers seemingly don’t pay much attention to greats of the past, from old ballplayers to Hall of Fame coaches. Ask someone if they know John Wooden, kids today probably don’t. He did win 10 NCAA basketball titles coaching for UCLA. And who was Don Drysdale? Only a Dodger Hall of Fame pitcher alongside Koufax from Van Nuys High.
Bravo is fortunate he’s seen Dodger broadcasts mentioning Koufax at the stadium and on TV, motivating him to learn more, which led to seeing his windup on YouTube.
His older brother also wore No. 32, so no one was getting that uniform number other than a Bravo brother at Poly.
There is another Bravo set to arrive in the fall. Julian Bravo will be a freshman left-handed pitcher and wants No. 32.
“While I’m there he’s going to have to find a new number,” Fabian Bravo said.
Julian might also want to help his big brother gain a few pounds at the dinner table.
“My brother takes food from me,” he said.
As for recognizing Bravo’s Koufax connection, it was No. 32 that provided the clue. How many pitchers in the 1970s were choosing No. 32? A lot. And it’s great to see a 17-year-old in 2026 paying tribute to one of the greatest pitchers ever.
Emulating Koufax is hard, but forgetting him is unforgivable.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Eli Manning retired in 2019 and missed out in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility in 2025. He was passed over again earlier this year but still fired back at a fan who claimed one of his contemporaries was the better quarterback.
On Tuesday, a social media user floated a theory about former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan, who now oversees football operations as the team’s president, last played in an NFL game in 2022. He announced his retirement in 2024, making him eligible for Hall of Fame consideration beginning in 2028.
“Matt Ryan was a better QB than Eli Manning… people just worship rings. Agree or nah,” the post read.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning greets Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan after their game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Oct. 22, 2018. (Jason Getz/USA TODAY Sports)
Manning caught wind of the suggestion and weighed in, pointing to the two Super Bowl-winning teams he was part of during his standout run with the New York Giants.
“I will ponder this while I play with my rings…,” Manning wrote in a quote-tweet.
Ryan’s statistical production surpasses Manning’s, at least on paper. He was named NFL MVP in 2016, an honor Manning never earned. Ryan is also the most accomplished player in Falcons history and finished his career with more than 62,000 regular-season passing yards, compared with Manning’s 57,023.
NFC head coach Eli Manning leads a huddle during a practice session before the NFL Pro Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on Feb. 4, 2023. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Both quarterbacks were selected to four Pro Bowls, but the key difference lies in championships. Manning won the Super Bowl in 2007 and 2011, while Ryan reached it once but fell short. Manning threw for a single season career-best 4,933 during the run leading up to the second Super Bowl title.
Ryan threw for 284 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to help the Falcons build a 25-point lead in the championship game — a matchup remembered for the New England Patriots engineering the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan passes the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Jan. 2, 2022. (Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The Falcons have reached the Super Bowl twice in franchise history, first in 1998, but the team is still chasing its first elusive championship.
The Giants marked their 100th season in 2024, winning four Super Bowls over the franchise’s century-long history.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
-
New Hampshire6 minutes agoHiker who set out in warm spring weather found dead after snowstorm in New Hampshire mountains
-
New Jersey12 minutes ago2028 New Jersey ATH has ‘great experience’ on visit to Syracuse
-
New Mexico18 minutes agoGovernor establishes Energy Affordability and Grid Reliability Council – 13-member council designed to protect ratepayers, modernize the grid – Office of the Governor – Michelle Lujan Grisham
-
North Carolina24 minutes ago
NC State’s 2026 Atlantic hurricane forecast calls for an average season with 12 to 15 named storms
-
North Dakota30 minutes agoValue of North Dakota oil rises as Iran war upends markets – KVRR Local News
-
Ohio36 minutes agoNWSL announces expansion to Columbus, Ohio
-
Oklahoma42 minutes ago
Woman rescued from Oklahoma City house fire; no injuries reported
-
Oregon48 minutes agoWine Enthusiast names 2 Oregon sparkling wines among best
