The Falcons hired Jeff Ulbrich as their new defensive coordinator on Saturday night, bringing back their former assistant coach.
Ulbrich, who served as the New York Jets’ interim coach for most of last season, will now take over a Falcons defense that faced criticism from first-year head coach Raheem Morris after the team finished 8-9. The previous defensive coordinator, Jimmy Lake, was fired a week ago.
The Falcons’ defense ranked 23rd in total defense and points allowed, and was last in sacks through the first nine games. Although there was a late-season improvement, it wasn’t enough to stop the team from suffering a seventh consecutive losing season.
Ulbrich had his interview with the Falcons on Wednesday, just four days after Lake and defensive line coach Jay Rodgers were let go.
During his time as the Jets’ interim coach, Ulbrich had a 3-9 record after the Jets fired Robert Saleh. He had also interviewed for the Jets’ full-time head coaching position on Monday. Ulbrich had been an assistant with the Falcons from 2015 to 2020.
This hiring marks a reunion with Morris, as Ulbrich had worked with him during his six seasons in Atlanta. Ulbrich was the linebackers coach from 2015 to 2019 and became assistant head coach/linebackers coach in 2020. When Morris was the interim head coach for the last 11 games of 2020, Ulbrich was promoted to interim defensive coordinator.
The Falcons’ announcement came shortly after they confirmed an interview with former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.
Eberflus was part of the Falcons’ rapid one-week search for a new defensive coordinator, which also included interviews with former San Francisco defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Pittsburgh Steelers secondary coach Grady Brown, Green Bay passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley, former Cincinnati assistant Lou Anarumo, and Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
