Jeff Ulbrich, former Jets interim head coach, named Falcons' defensive coordinator
Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich looks on against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Jeff Ulbrich is returning — to Atlanta.
Ulbrich, who finished the season as the Jets’ interim coach, was named the Falcons’ defensive coordinator on Saturday night. He was on the Falcons’ coaching staff before he joined the Jets as their defensive coordinator in 2021.
The Jets interviewed Ulbrich for their full-time coaching position, but he was always a long shot to get the job. He went 3-9 to finish the season after replacing Robert Saleh, who was fired after a Week 5 loss.
Ulbrich is the second of the 15 candidates the Jets have interviewed to get hired somewhere. The Patriots named Mike Vrabel their head coach.
Ulbrich, who spent six seasons with the Falcons before Saleh brought him to the Jets, started out as Atlanta’s linebackers coach in 2015. Raheem Morris was on that same staff. When Morris became Atlanta’s interim coach in 2020, he named Ulbrich defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
The two remained close after Ulbrich left for the Jets and Morris went to the Rams. Atlanta brought back Morris as head coach last year, and now he’s reunited with Ulbrich.
Ulbrich was very popular with Jets players and had success as their defensive coordinator. He retained that title and ran the defense after replacing Saleh, but the Jets weren’t as strong defensively.
The Jets were a top-five defense in 2022 and 2023. They ranked third this year but were 20th in points allowed. They gave up at least 25 points in eight of their last 11 games.
Cornerback Sauce Gardner was named All-Pro twice and to two Pro Bowls, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams earned one All-Pro nod and played in two Pro Bowls, and linebacker Quincy Williams was an All-Pro under Ulbrich’s watch.
Ulbrich started his coaching career in 2010 as an assistant special teams coach for the Seattle Seahawks. After two years in that role, he served three years as UCLA’s linebackers and special teams coach.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
