The New York Jets are basically a soap opera with shoulder pads. If you’ve spent any time on sports Twitter or lurking in the depths of Reddit lately, you’ve probably seen the name Jeff Ulbrich floating around with a lot of question marks attached. Most of the confusion boils down to one simple, nagging question: did Jeff Ulbrich get fired?
Actually, the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple "yes" or "no." It depends on how you define "fired" in the brutal, revolving-door world of the NFL.
The Short Answer: Did Jeff Ulbrich Get Fired From the Jets?
Technically, no. Jeff Ulbrich was not fired by the New York Jets in the way his predecessor, Robert Saleh, was. When the Jets famously axed Saleh in October 2024 after a disappointing 2-3 start, Ulbrich was actually the guy they promoted. He stepped into the role of interim head coach for the remainder of that chaotic 2024 season.
He didn't get "the boot" mid-season. He got the keys to a crashing plane.
However, if you're asking if he stayed on as the head coach after that season ended, the answer is also no. The Jets didn't hand him the permanent job. Instead, they went in a totally different direction for the 2025 season, hiring Aaron Glenn (the former Detroit Lions defensive mastermind) to take over the franchise. When a new head coach comes in, the old staff—especially an interim one—usually hits the bricks.
So, did Jeff Ulbrich get fired? He wasn't terminated for cause; his contract as the interim leader simply concluded, and the organization chose not to retain him or return him to his old Defensive Coordinator post. He became a free agent in the coaching market, which is a polite way of saying the Jets were done with him.
What Happened During the Ulbrich Interim Era?
Honestly, the 2024 season for the Jets was a fever dream. Ulbrich took over a locker room that was clearly reeling from the Saleh firing. He inherited a roster with a legendary (and aging) Aaron Rodgers and a defense that was top-tier but exhausted.
Under Ulbrich, the Jets went 3-9.
That’s not exactly a "hire this man immediately" resume. But to be fair, he was trying to fix a leaky hull while the ship was already halfway underwater. He later admitted in interviews that he struggled with the transition. He tried to do too much himself. He kept the play-calling duties for the defense instead of delegating, which he eventually called a "failure" on his part.
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Why the "Fired" Rumors Won't Die
People often assume any coach who leaves the Jets was "fired" because, well, that's usually the case. But Ulbrich’s exit was more of a mutual parting of ways. The Jets wanted a fresh start with Aaron Glenn, and Ulbrich wanted a place where he could get back to his roots as a defensive specialist without the baggage of the New York media circus.
Where Is Jeff Ulbrich Now?
If you're worried about him being out of work, don't be. The man has a high reputation in the league for a reason. On January 18, 2025, the Atlanta Falcons scooped him up to be their Defensive Coordinator.
This was a homecoming of sorts. Ulbrich had coached in Atlanta for years under Dan Quinn and Raheem Morris before he ever went to New York. Returning to the Falcons meant reuniting with Morris, and the results so far have been pretty night and day compared to his final weeks in Jersey.
The 2025 Success in Atlanta
While the Jets were struggling under their new regime in 2025 (finishing with a dismal 3-11 record), Ulbrich was actually thriving in Atlanta. He turned the Falcons' defense into a formidable unit. They weren't just "good for Atlanta"; they were legitimately scary.
- The Pass Rush: Led by rookies like James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker, Ulbrich’s scheme generated 57 sacks in 2025.
- The Ranking: They moved from the bottom third of the league to the middle of the pack in takeaways.
- The Reputation: By the end of 2025, other teams like the Dallas Cowboys were already trying to poach him for their own DC openings.
Is His Job Safe in 2026?
As of January 2026, there’s a new wrinkle. The Falcons recently moved on from Raheem Morris. Usually, when a head coach gets fired, the coordinators are right behind them.
However, Falcons owner Arthur Blank has been very vocal about wanting to keep Ulbrich around. Blank essentially told the media that while he won’t force a new head coach to keep him, he is "strongly recommending" that whoever takes the job retains Jeff Ulbrich as the Defensive Coordinator.
That is massive. It's rare for an owner to stump for a coordinator that hard during a coaching search. It shows that while the Jets didn't see him as their long-term solution, the rest of the league sees him as a premier defensive mind.
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Comparing the Jets and Falcons Outcomes
| Team | Status with Ulbrich | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| New York Jets | Interim Head Coach (2024) | 3-9 record; Parted ways after season. |
| Atlanta Falcons | Defensive Coordinator (2025) | 57 sacks; Huge defensive improvement. |
The contrast is wild. The Jets replaced him with Steve Wilks as DC in 2025, and that move "aged like milk," as some analysts put it. The Jets' defense cratered, surrendering massive points to teams like the Jaguars, while Ulbrich was turning nobodies into Pro Bowlers in Georgia.
The Reality of the "Fired" Label
In the NFL, the word "fired" carries a stigma. If you get fired, it implies you failed at your job. Jeff Ulbrich didn't fail as a defensive coordinator; he just wasn't the right fit for a permanent head coaching gig in the most impatient market in sports.
He’s a "coach's coach." He’s the guy players like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams thrived under. When he left New York, it wasn't because he forgot how to coach; it was because the organization was in a total free-fall that no single person could stop.
What’s Next for You?
If you're following this because you're a Jets fan, it's a tough pill to swallow seeing him succeed elsewhere. If you're a Falcons fan, you're probably praying the new 2026 head coach listens to Arthur Blank and keeps him on staff.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve on this, keep a close eye on the Atlanta Falcons coaching search over the next few weeks. If a defensive-minded head coach gets hired, Ulbrich might move on to a team like the Cowboys or Eagles. If a young offensive guru gets the job, there's a very high chance Ulbrich stays put to run the "other" side of the ball.
Watch the waiver wire and the official team announcements—Jeff Ulbrich isn't going anywhere; he's just getting started.
Check the latest NFL transaction wire for any "Request to Interview" notices involving Ulbrich, as that will be the first sign of whether he stays in Atlanta or finally gets that second shot at a head coaching chair elsewhere.