The Atlanta Falcons, despite a change at head coach, are retaining former New York Jets defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich as their defensive coordinator.
Raheem Morris was let go after two underwhelming seasons on the job in Atlanta, and two-time Coach of the Year winner Kevin Stefanski has been hired to replace him.
Stefanski is keeping Ulbrich on to coordinate his defense, which was one of the better units in the NFL this past season.
The Falcons set a franchise record in quarterback sacks this past season, recording 57, led by first-round picks James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker.
Falcons Keeping Defensive Continuity
When Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank addressed the media after firing Morris, he said he would not mandate the next head coach to keep Ulbrich as defensive coordinator, but recommended it.
“Jeff Ulbrich, in my view, he did a really fine job for us this year. Certainly look at the record of sacks. And just the overall performance of defense was definitely better than it’s been in the past,” Blank said, via the team website.
Stefanski is clearly taking his new owner’s advice, and Ulbrich will coordinate the defense in 2026.
The Falcons’ defense was one of the worst in the league in 2024, the first year of Morris’ tenure. They ranked 28th in Sumer Sports’ EPA/play and were 31st in sacks with just 31 as a team.
After bringing Ulbrich into the fold and mortgaging their 2026 draft capital on two first-round edge rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft, Atlanta improved to 15th in defensive EPA/play and second in the league in total sacks behind only the Denver Broncos.
It’s no wonder that Blank wanted to keep Ulbrich around. The work he’s done with the defense is incredible, and if Stefanski can get the offense functioning properly, the Falcons can be a real threat in the NFC for 2026.
Jeff Ulbrich’s Unfortunate Jets Tenure
When the New York Jets hired Robert Saleh to be their head coach in early 2021, one of the first hires he made was Ulbrich as his defensive coordinator.
After a lackluster first year, the Jets’ defense transformed into one of the best units in the league, ranking in the top-10 for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Heading into a do-or-die 2024 season, Ulbrich was thrust into the interim head coach role after Saleh was fired for a slow start.
“I feel that we had to go in a different direction and that’s why I did that today. The change that we made today, that I made, I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins starting now,” owner Woody Johnson said in a statement after firing Saleh.
“I just felt that the best way to go forward with a new direction and taking Jeff Ulbrich and making him the interim head coach, I thought that would get the most out of this team and give us the best chance to do what we all want to, which is going to the playoffs.”
The Jets would not make the playoffs under the guidance of Ulbrich and would finish 3-9 down the stretch of the season.
Ulbrich later admitted regret in retaining defensive play-calling duties, wishing he hadn’t divided his attention in his first chance as a head coach.
“There is an element of a failure for myself in that way because I didn’t delegate,” Ulbrich told reporters at his Atlanta Falcons introductory press conference.
“I didn’t. I just took it all on myself. In my mind’s eye, I was trying to create continuity and I didn’t want a fractious staff.”
If Ulbrich can put together another season of elite defense, he may get another shot at being a head coach.
After all, he received head coaching interview requests for helping turn the Jets’ defense around.
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