The Jets have completed an interview with Jeff Ulbrich for the Green & White's head coach vacancy.
Ulbrich was thrust into the role of the Jets' interim head coach on Oct. 8, five games into the 2024 NFL season, after Robert Saleh was dismissed. Before that, he served as the team's defensive coordinator since January 2021. With Ulbrich at the helm, the team went 3-9, completing the regular season with a 32-20 victory over AFC East rival Miami.
"It was very challenging but also very rewarding," Ulbrich said, reflecting on his tenure. "I know that sounds crazy, the fact that the results were not what we all wanted, but I learned a lot about myself, I learned a lot about this team, I learned a lot about coaching, teaching, leadership, the whole thing. It's going to be a great opportunity for me to reflect and grow when this is all said and done."
Ulbrich began his coaching career as the assistant special teams coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks (2010-11) before joining the UCLA coach staff as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator (2012-14). He returned to the NFL as the Atlanta Falcons' linebackers coach (2015-19) and served as the team's defensive coordinator and assistant head coach in 2020.
In his role as the Jets' defensive coordinator, Ulbrich oversaw a tenacious defense for three seasons. During that time, he helped develop young players including defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, cornerback Sauce Gardner and linebacker Quincy Williams, among others. Ulbrich led a unit to two top five total defense finishes with a third overall (292.3 yard per game) finish in 2023.
During his tenure leading the whole squad, Ulbrich said he was able to move beyond the defensive bubble and engage with players like QB Aaron Rodgers and WR Garrett Wilson as he expanded and honed his knowledge.
"This culture as far as the process is right," he said. "I think these guys understand what it takes to be successful, they put the time in, all those things. I don't think there's a huge flaw in the culture. I don't. I do think there's an element of, there has been a lot of losing, and that's hard to overcome, and it gets into you sometimes, and you have to fight this internal narrative sometimes that 'here we go again,' and I think that can exist for some people, it can. And you've got to fight it, you've got to overcome it, and the only way you really cure it is by winning and winning on a consistent basis. That will cure everything here. It will, just having some success, a little momentum, and the culture will become what it's supposed to be, and what it needs to be."
Ulbrich, 47, grew up in California and was a two-sport athlete (football and wrestling) at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill. In college, he played linebacker for San Jose State, Gavilan College and Hawaii, and led the WAC conference and set a school record with 127 total tackles his senior year playing for the Rainbow Warriors. Selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round (No. 86 overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft, he was limited to four games his rookie season because of a shoulder injury but won a starting job in 2001. Over his 10-year NFL career, all with the Niners, Ulbrich played in 120 games, was credited with 501 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, 32 TFL, 6 fumble recoveries and 2 INTs.
Jets Chairman Woody Johnson is leading the searches for a head coach and general manager. He hired The 33rd Team in a support role to help identify and vet candidates in addition to coordinate interviews.
For a full list of the head coaching and general manager candidates the Jets have interviewed, click here.
