NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center:Who is Jeff Ulbrich? New York Jets name DC interim head coach

The NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank CenterNew 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 fired coach Robert Saleh following the team's 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been named the interim head coach.

Saleh's tenure was marked by unstable offense and strong defensive play. Ulbrich has coached that defense throughout 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 last two seasons, the Jets have finished fourth (2022) and third (2023) overall in total defense. In 2023, the Jets allowed a league-low 4.6 yards per play. Since 2021, the Jets defense has allowed the second-lowest yards per game in the NFL.

Saleh was not calling plays on offense or defense. Ulbrich has led the Jets' defensive unit, calling plays. He was a popular name to watch for head coaching interviews in 2025 and now has an opportunity to win the job in New York. He was a head coach at the Senior Bowl this past season and now gets his shot at leading 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 the assistant head coach in 2020, and by Week 6, he had become the defensive coordinator when Raheem Morris was named interim head coach following Dan Quinn's firing.

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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. UCLA highly coveted and 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 / Linebackers / Special Teams - 2012-13

Seattle Seahawks | 2010- 2011

• Special Teams Assistant - 2010-11

Playing career

• San Francisco 49ers (Linebacker) - 2000-09
• Hawai'i (Linebacker) - 1998-99
• 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 at Hawaii, where he was drafted in the third round of the 2000 NFL draft by the 49ers.

(This story was updated to change a video.)