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Who is Jeff Ulbrich? New York Jets appoint DC as interim head coach

Vaseline October 8, 2024

The New York Jets (2-3) returned from their Week 5 trip from London and wasted no time before making an organizational change. On Tuesday morning, the Jets announced they had fired coach Robert Saleh following the team’s 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been named interim head coach.

Saleh’s tenure was marked by an unstable attack and strong defensive play. Ulbrich coached that defense during Saleh’s time in New York.

Ulbrich has been the Jets’ defensive coordinator since joining the organization in 2021 as a member of Saleh’s coaching staff. Over the past two seasons, the Jets have finished fourth (2022) and third (2023) overall in total defense. In 2023, the Jets allowed a low 4.6 yards per play. Since 2021, the Jets defense is allowing the second-fewest yards per game in the NFL.

Saleh did not call any offensive or defensive actions. Ulbrich has led the Jets’ defensive unit and called plays. He was a popular name to watch during head coaching interviews in 2025 and now has a chance to land the New York job. He was head coach at the Senior Bowl this past season and now gets the opportunity to lead an NFL team.

Jeff Ulbrich coaching history

Before his time with the Jets, Ulbrich was the linebackers coach for the Atlanta Falcons for five seasons. He became assistant head coach in 2020, and by Week 6 had become the defensive coordinator when Raheem Morris was named interim head coach following the firing of Dan Quinn.

Ulbrich’s coaching career began immediately after his ten-year playing career in the NFL. From 2010 to 2011, he spent two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks as a special teams assistant. Highly coveted, UCLA hired him as their linebacker and special teams coach. He quickly made his presence felt and was promoted to assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

Jeff Ulbrich career

New York Jets | 2021-present

Interim head coach – 2024
Defensive Coordinator – 2021-present

Atlanta Falcons | 2015-20

Interim Defensive Coordinator – 2020
Assistant Head Coach / Linebackers – 2020
Linebackers – 2015-19

UCLA | 2012-14

Defensive Coordinator – 2014
Assistant Head Coach/Linebacklines/Special Teams – 2012-2013

Seattle Seahawks | 2010-2011

Special teams assistant – 2010-11

Play career

San Francisco 49ers (Linebacker) – 2000-09
Hawai’i (Linebacker) – 1998-1999
Gavilan (California) Junior College (Linebacker) – 1997
San Jose State (Linebacker) – 1996 (Redshirt)

Ulbrich played linebacker in the NFL for ten seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He played 120 games, posting 653 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions.

He played college football in Hawaii, where he was drafted by the 49ers in the third round of the 2000 NFL draft.

(This story has been updated to change a video.)