Falcons Announce Important Coaching Decision

Despite hiring a new head coach in Kevin Stefanski, the Atlanta Falcons will be retaining their in-house defensive coordinator into 2026 and beyond.

According to NFL sources Adam Schefter and Tom Pelissero, Atlanta is bringing back Jeff Ulbrich in the role of defensive coordinator.

The news broke on Monday, with Pelissero reporting that Ulbrich has landed a new three-year deal to be part of Stefanski’s staff. The Falcons defense tallied a franchise record 57 sacks in 2025 under Ulbrich.

The Falcons agreed to terms with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on a new three-year deal, per sources.

Kevin Stefanski’s first key staff addition come in-house in Atlanta, where Ulbrich’s D set a franchise record with 57 sacks in 2025. pic.twitter.com/YAbkIBR6k1

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 19, 2026

Ulbrich’s NFL coaching career began in 2010 as the Seattle Seahawks’ assistant special teams coordinator. After stints at UCLA coaching linebackers and special teams from 2012 to 2014, he joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2015 as linebackers coach, a role he held through 2019. In 2020, Ulbrich served as assistant head coach and linebackers coach before stepping up as interim defensive coordinator following Dan Quinn’s departure. That year, the Falcons’ defense ranked 29th in yards allowed but showed late-season improvement in turnovers.

Ulbrich moved to the New York Jets as defensive coordinator in 2021, overseeing units that consistently ranked among the league’s top in total defense, including third in 2023. In October 2024, he became interim head coach, finishing 3-9 amid challenges.

Returning to Atlanta as defensive coordinator in 2025, Ulbrich transformed the pass rush.