Atlanta Falcons Name Jeff Ulbrich as Defensive Coordinator

The Atlanta Falcons have announced Jeff Ulbrich as their new defensive coordinator, marking a significant addition to their coaching staff. Ulbrich joins the team after a successful four-year tenure as the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets, where he also served as interim head coach for the final 13 weeks of the 2024 season.

Under Ulbrich’s leadership, the Jets’ defense consistently ranked among the NFL’s elite, finishing in the top five for total defense in each of the past three seasons. The unit ranked fourth in 2022 and third in both 2023 and 2024. Across the last three seasons combined, Ulbrich’s defense led the league in total defense (305.7 yards per game) and passing defense (183.5 yards per game), while ranking fifth in tackles for loss (269), eighth in sacks (136), and ninth in scoring defense (21.1 points per game).

In 2024, the Jets finished third in total defense, limiting opponents to 192.6 passing yards per game—good for fourth in the league—and ranking seventh in sacks per pass attempt with an 8.25% success rate. The defense was particularly dominant in 2023, allowing just 292.3 yards per game, the eighth-best mark in Jets history, and holding opponents to 4.6 yards per play—the lowest average in the NFL that year.

Ulbrich’s ability to develop talent has been a hallmark of his coaching career. During his time with the Jets, he helped cornerback Sauce Gardner achieve first-team All-Pro honors in 2022 and 2023, making Gardner the first cornerback in NFL history to earn the accolade in his first two seasons. Additionally, linebacker Quincy Williams was named First-Team All-Pro and Team MVP, while linebacker Jermaine Johnson and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams also earned Pro Bowl selections under Ulbrich’s guidance.

Ulbrich’s 2022 Jets defense allowed just 18.59 points per game, the fourth-best mark in the NFL, and stood out as the only team that season to prevent a single 300-yard passer. The unit also allowed the fewest 100-yard individual performances, further underscoring its dominance.

This move marks a homecoming for Ulbrich, who previously spent six seasons (2015-2020) with the Falcons. He served as linebackers coach before being promoted to assistant head coach and later interim defensive coordinator during the 2020 season. In his interim role, he helped improve the Falcons’ defense, ranking them among the league’s top third in opponents’ third-down percentage and red zone touchdown percentage, while also allowing the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game over the final 11 games.

Ulbrich began his coaching career with the Seattle Seahawks as a special teams assistant (2010-2011) before transitioning to the collegiate level at UCLA, where he served as assistant head coach, linebackers coach, and special teams coordinator from 2012-2013, eventually becoming the Bruins’ defensive coordinator in 2014.

A native of San Jose, Calif., Ulbrich brings extensive experience and a proven track record of success to Atlanta. His familiarity with the Falcons organization, coupled with his recent success in New York, positions him as a strong leader to reshape Atlanta’s defense and elevate the unit to new heights.