Jeff

Ulbrich

A helpless observer to the Jets’ slow-burn 2024 fiasco after they scapegoated Robert Saleh, Ulbrich is short on actual coordinating experience, but he profiles as a trusted lieutenant for Raheem Morris. Ulbrich worked alongside Morris for five years in Atlanta under Dan Quinn. He’s a stabilizing hire, not someone who is being brought in to shake things up. We assume Morris will mostly function as his own boss.

The Jets completed an interview with Ulbrich for their head coaching vacancy earlier this week. After going 3-9 as the team’s interim head coach following Robert Saleh’s firing, Ulbrich is unlikely to stick in New York next season. A defensive coordinator gig would be a good landing spot for Ullbrich, who has held that title for roughly five years in total. His first coordinator job came with the Falcons in 2020 when he took over the role midseason. New York hired him the next offseason.

The Jets are also interviewing for their general manager vacancy, having fired both Joe Douglas and former head head Robert Saleh earlier this year. Ulbrich took over for Saleh in Week 6 and has since gone 2-9. Though he was dealt a losing hand, the record speaks for itself, as does the Jets’ defensive collapse under Ulbrich. The interview will give Ulbrich one final chance to pitch himself to ownership, though we expect the team to go in a different direction this offseason.

Ulbrich did say that titles would not change, but this very strongly hints that Nathaniel Hackett may lose his role as playcaller for the Jets. Passing game coordinator Todd Downing would be the most logical playcaller in the room if that were the case, as he was Titans OC in 2021-2022 and Raiders OC in 2017. It wouldn’t exactly be an exciting change, but removing Hackett may be enough to improve the Jets’ prospects on its own.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will take over as interim head coach. Apparently the Jets had seen enough after three lackluster seasons and a sputtering start to the 2024 campaign. Saleh has had a dicey relationship with Aaron Rodgers, including a couple well-documented sideline interactions that did not appear entirely friendly. Saleh’s defense was elite throughout his time with the Jets. Since the start of the 2021 season, Saleh’s Jets defense has allowed the sixth lowest offensive success rate and has been stellar against the pass over the past two seasons. Saleh had the misfortune of being tied to the success or failure of Zach Wilson, the team’s first round draft pick in 2022 who flamed out immediately. Rodgers’ Week 1 Achilles tear in 2023 was another blow for Saleh, who once again had to lean on Wilson. A defensive coordinator before landing the Jets top job, Saleh, 45, will likely be a popular coordinator prospect during the offseason. He ends his Jets tenure with a 20-32 record.

Surprisingly, Ulbrich, and not new head coach Robert Saleh, will call plays on defense in 2021. An NFL player as recently as 2009, Ulbrich had never coordinator a defense until being named the Falcons’ interim 2020 man following the firing of Dan Quinn. Ulbrich and interim coach Raheem Morris both called some plays during their time in Atlanta. Despite supposedly handing over the reins, Saleh figures to remain intimately involved in game-planning and in-game strategy, giving Ulbrich some leeway as he learns the ropes of leading a defense. He isn’t going to have much talent to work with in 2021.

The organization also relieved Ben Kotwica of his duties as special teams coordinator and promoted Bernie Parmalee to that role. Will Harriger will take over as running backs coach. All eyes will be on Ulbrich to right the ship for a unit that’s allowed 32 points per game and remains riddled with long-term injuries.

Ulbrich was the 49ers leading tackler last week. With Julian Peterson out, they can ill afford another loss in their LB corps.

Ulbrich has some fantasy value the rest of the way as a starter.

Ulbrich, 37 next week, was a third-round pick of the 49ers in 2000 and spent 10 seasons with the team before retiring in 2009. He immediately got into coaching, joining the Seahawks as a special teams assistant in 2010. Ulbrich then joined Jim Mora’s staff at UCLA in 2012 as linebackers coach, where he coached first-round prospect Anthony Barr. Ulbrich is quickly rising up the ranks.