Atlanta Falcons announce Jeff Ulbrich as next defensive coordinator

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — After an extensive search for the organization’s next defensive coordinator, the Atlanta Falcons have hired Jeff Ulbrich to take over as playmaker for the unit.

This news comes after the Falcons interviewed seven candidates throughout the week, following the firing of former defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake on Jan. 11 after one year with the team.

Ulbrich returns to Atlanta after four seasons with the New York Jets. He spent the first three seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator and began the 2024 campaign in the same role. However, Ulbrich was named interim head coach after Robert Saleh was fired from that position five games into the season.

A former NFL linebacker for 10 seasons, Ulbrich was the Falcons linebackers coach on Dan Quinn’s staff from 2015 to 2019. He was on the same staff as current Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, also arrived in Atlanta in 2015. Morris spent four of his years under Quinn working with the offense, but he was named the team’s defensive coordinator before the 2020 season. the Falcons parted ways with Quinn a month into the 2020 season, Morris was promoted to interim head coach. He then named Ulbrich defensive coordinator for the remaining 11 games of that season – a move that foreshadowed the current one.

Together, Ulbrich and Morris worked hand-in-hand to create defensive game plans for the Falcons. Back then, Ulbrich ran plays for early downs, while Morris handled late downs. The two men had a very strong working relationship at the time. They respected each other, and at the end of the 2020 season, Ulbrich used his final media availability to support Morris as head coach.

“In this day and age in the culture of this current player in the NFL, there is no better candidate in my opinion,” Ulbrich said of Morris on the final day of 2020. “You have to have the ability to identify with the current player You have to have the ability to create an environment for the current player that is not necessarily built in the old NFL world, in my opinion, for these kids to thrive. are just not raised the same way, football is not played like that, one of those rare guys who has that ability to create the necessary environment.

The Falcons did not retain any members of Quinn’s staff beyond the 2020 season, including Morris and Ulbrich. When Morris went to the Los Angeles Rams to become their defensive coordinator, Ulbrich moved up the East Coast to New York.

His first season with the Jets – and his first time as a full-time defensive signal caller – wasn’t much to write home about. New York finished the season ranked last in points and yards allowed per game. The unit was second to last in forced turnovers.

A year later, however, production increased significantly, with the Jets ranking fourth in points and yards allowed per game as well as fourth in defensive EPA, according to TruMedia. In 2023, the Jets still maintained good numbers, ranking third in yards, 12th in points allowed per game, and finishing second in defensive EPA.

When Ulbrich became the Jets’ interim in Week 6 of the 2024 season, he leaned on Morris for support and spoke with the Falcons head coach before his first game in the role main.

Ulbrich now returns south to reunite with a former colleague and friend with more experience under his belt. Time will tell if he can take an Atlanta defense that ranked 23rd in the league in total defense in 2024 and turn it into a more cohesive, impactful group.