NY Jets news: Jeff Ulbrich drama, 2022 draft class makes history, Jets lose top scout

Jeff Ulbrich prank call drama
Jets' 2022 draft class makes history
Jets lose one of their top scouts

Justin Fried

Former NY Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich / Luke Hales/GettyImages

Former New York Jets defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich has found himself at the center of an unusual draft-day controversy.

Ulbrich, now the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive coordinator, was tied to the leak of quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ private phone number, which was later used by his son, Jax Ulbrich, to prank call Sanders during the NFL Draft — a stunt that sparked a league investigation and widespread backlash.

On Wednesday, Ulbrich publicly apologized, calling both his and his son’s actions “inexcusable.” The NFL handed down discipline shortly prior, fining the Falcons $250,000 and Ulbrich personally $100,000.

The incident marks an embarrassing chapter for the former Jets coach, who briefly served as interim head coach following Robert Saleh’s firing during the 2024 season.

Other NY Jets news:

Jets' 2022 draft class makes history

The New York Jets made history on Wednesday by officially exercising the fifth-year options for all three of their 2022 first-round picks — cornerback Sauce Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson.

It marks the first time since the NFL introduced the fifth-year option in 2011 that a team has picked up three in the same year. All three players have quickly become key building blocks in New York.

Gardner is already a two-time All-Pro and one of the league’s premier shutdown corners. Wilson has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons despite inconsistent quarterback play. Johnson broke out with a Pro Bowl campaign in 2023 before suffering a torn Achilles last year.

That Jets' 2022 draft class will go down as one of the best in recent NFL history. Now, all three are under contract through the 2026 season, with possible extensions on the way.

Jets lose one of their top scouts

Longtime Jets scout Johnathon Stigall is reportedly leaving the organization to join the Las Vegas Raiders as their Assistant Director of College Scouting.

Stigall, a highly respected veteran in the scouting world, spent 11 seasons with the Jets and 26 years in the NFL overall, playing a key role in the team’s recent drafts, including the historic 2022 class that produced the aforementioned trio of Gardner, Wilson, and Johnson.

With the 2025 NFL Draft now complete, changes like this could signal a broader shift in the Jets’ scouting department as new GM Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn continue to shape the organization in their image.

Don't be surprised if more changes are made to the scouting department now that this year's draft cycle has come to an end.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.