The Atlanta Falcons have found their new defensive coordinator, officially hiring Jeff Ulbrich on Saturday evening. The team interviewed seven candidates for its coaching vacancy but opted for the familiar face.
Ulbrich, 47, was with the Falcons from 2015 to 2020. He served as the linebackers coach for the first five years before taking over as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach once Atlanta fired Dan Quinn five games into the 2020 NFL season.
The Falcons did not bring Ulbrich back in 2021 and he took a job as the New York Jets defensive coordinator under Robert Saleh. When the Jets fired Saleh five games into the 2024 season, Ulbrich was named the interim head coach. New York went 3-9 over the final 12 games under Ulbrich.
The Falcons defense struggled down the stretch and the team fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake once the season ended. Atlanta gave up 24.9 points and 345.2 yards per game this season, ranking 23rd in the NFL in both categories.
Sacks were a problem again as the team ranked 31st in the league. Atlanta managed just 10 sacks over the first 11 games and had no answer for mobile quarterbacks last season.
The team interviewed most of the top names for its defensive coordinator vacancy, including Steve Wilks, Wink Martindale and Lou Anarumo, before selecting Ulbrich.