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Marc Raimondi
New Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski will keep incumbent defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in his role, the team announced Monday.
The Falcons reached agreement on a new three-year contract with Ulbrich, a source told ESPN, confirming a report by NFL Network.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank said at a news conference two weeks ago that he would recommend — but not require — that the team’s new head coach retain Ulbrich. The Falcons announced Stefanski as their new head coach Saturday night.
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In the first year of his second stint with the Falcons, Ulbrich guided the team’s defense to a franchise-record 57 sacks, ranking second in the NFL. Getting to the quarterback had been an issue in Atlanta for many years. Over the six-year span entering the 2025 season, the Falcons had 30 fewer sacks than any other team in the league.
This past season, first-year edge rusher James Pearce Jr. had 10.5 sacks, best among rookies, and rookie edge rusher Jalon Walker had 5.5. Rookie safety Xavier Watts had five interceptions.
New York Jets’ defensive coordinator. He also served as the Jets’ interim head coach in 2024, following the firing of coach Robert Saleh after Week 5.
Raheem Morris, hired as the Falcons’ head coach in 2024, brought Ulbrich back to Atlanta in 2025 after the firing of Jimmy Lake. Morris was fired by the Falcons after two straight 8-9 seasons.
The Falcons have not made the playoffs or had a winning record in eight years.
