In January 2025, former New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich was hired as the team’s defensive coordinator after working in that same role in an interim capacity with Morris after Quinn’s firing.

Ulbrich returns to Atlanta, where he and current head coach Raheem Morris were both on Dan Quinn’s staff from 2015-20. Ulbrich was the Jets’ DC the last four years, and was 3-9 as interim head coach this season after Robert Saleh was fired.

Following a lengthy search, the Atlanta Falcons hired Jeff Ulbrich for their defensive coordinator vacancy on Saturday evening. The interim head coach of the New York Jets returns to Atlanta where he spent six seasons as a linebackers coach (2015-2020) and one year as interim defensive coordinator.

The Falcons' quick hiring of Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator has sparked frustration among fans, who see it as yet another example of the team's lack of forward-thinking moves.

Jeff Ulbrich, who served as the Jets interim head coach for the final 12 games of the 2024 season, has landed a new job. The Falcons are hiring Ulbrich as their defensive coordinator . Ulbrich had been with the Jets since 2021.

It is a return to Atlanta for Ulbrich. He was the Falcons’ linebackers coach there from 2015-20, then interim defensive coordinator in 2020 after Dan Quinn was fired as head coach and current Falcons coach Raheem Morris was the interim coach.

The Atlanta Falcons have hired former New York Jets defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich as their defensive coordinator, the team announced Saturday night. The Falcons interviewed seven candidates for the job, but Ulbrich always was considered the favorite because of his relationship with Falcons head coach Raheem Morris.

Robert Saleh hired Ulbrich as the Jets’ defensive coordinator in 2021 after he was hired as head coach. Gang Green ranked last in yards and points allowed in Ulbrich’s first year as a full-time defensive play-caller. However, from 2022-23, the Jets finished in the top five in yards allowed under Ulbrich’s leadership.

The Atlanta Falcons are asking for improvements to the defense and hired Jeff Ulbrich to lead that charge, but can he turn that unit around the way he did in New York with the Jets?

The Falcons have hired Jeff Ulbrich to be their next defensive coordinator. Kevin Knight and Tre’Shon Diaz break down the hire and tackle some burning offseason questions like the future of Kirk Cousins and Kyle Pitts.