Cristina Ulbrich, the wife of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, passed away on Sunday after battling cancer, as announced by the team. The Atlanta Falcons expressed their sorrow in a statement, highlighting her dedication as a wife, mother, and friend. Her strength and grace left an impact on all who knew her.
The statement highlighted her as a constant source of love and backing for Jeff, their family, and the wider Falcons community. The organization conveyed its deepest condolences to Jeff, their children, and everyone who loved Cristina. They requested respect for the family’s privacy during this challenging time and offered support in memory of Cristina’s life.
Multiple reports noted that Jeff Ulbrich, aged 49, was absent from the Falcons’ training camp on Tuesday and Wednesday. The couple shared three children: Samantha, Jax, and Jace. Cristina met Jeff during his recruiting visit to Hawaii in 1997.
Jeff Ulbrich became the Falcons’ defensive coordinator last season, following his role with the New York Jets since 2021. He returned to the Falcons, where he previously served as a linebackers coach in 2015. He was part of the 2017 Super Bowl team that lost to the New England Patriots in overtime after leading 28-3.
In 2020, Ulbrich was promoted within the Falcons’ organization, later becoming the defensive coordinator under interim head coach Raheem Morris. He joined the New York Jets with Robert Saleh in 2021 and was named interim head coach in 2024. Ulbrich had a 3-9 record before rejoining Morris as defensive coordinator last season.
Despite Morris being fired, Jeff Ulbrich retained his position when the Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski for the 2026 season. Ulbrich’s coaching career followed a decade-long NFL playing career as a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. After retiring, he coached with the Seattle Seahawks and served as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at UCLA.
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