Ulbrich Is the Defensive Innovator Shaping the Atlanta Falcons’ Identity

Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, a former NFL linebacker, has steadily forged a reputation as one of the game’s finest defensive minds. Transitioning from player to coach, he brings a uniquely empathetic perspective grounded in on-field experience and sharp strategic insight.

Ulbrich’s defensive philosophy centers on three pillars which are essentially fundamentally sound technique, situational awareness, and relentless adaptability. In an article by Terrin Waack head coach Raheem Morris talks about Ulbrich’s coaching style.

“When he coaches, he has a real intentionality on what he’s coaching that day and what he wants to do and what he wants to get accomplished,” Morris said. “He’s not afraid to say it. He speaks with a high level of clarity to the guys.

“That’s what that kind of room is like. It’s almost like being in a quarterback room. It’s an intentional day for quarterbacks every day. For wideouts, I might just go catch the rock. But it’s intentional for those guys every single day.”

Ulbrich a Player’s Coach

A hallmark of Ulbrich’s coaching style is his focus on player-system synergy. Rather than bending athletes to the scheme, he crafts defensive looks around their strengths. Strong press corners play physical man roles; agile safeties form the backbone of deep-zone coverage; and linebackers are tasked according to their discipline run pursuit, blitzing, or coverage. All-pro Jessie Bates loves playing for Ulbrich.

“I love it,” Bates said. “The meetings are unbelievable. The way that he’s teaching the positions, teaching our defense, to not just to understand your job but to get a whole understanding of how we are trying to attack as a defense. I think that will go a very long way when you can play four different coverages, and it all looks the same.”

Scheme & Strategy

In today’s pass-heavy NFL, Ulbrich champions defenses that can fluidly shift between man coverage and zone schemes without creating vulnerability. He stresses a hybrid approach: deploying man-heavy fronts in obvious down-and-distance scenarios, while leveraging aggressive zone masquerades on early downs to confuse QBs and bait risky throws. This strategic flexibility forces opponents into uncertainty and gives defenders clarity within their roles.

“When you’re game-planning a team, sometimes the onus has to get put on a position group,” he said. “I think, in my very biased eyes, that when defensive coordinators are D-line or DBs, they kind of gear things and put the tough jobs on the linebackers a little bit. I can already tell Brich is going to look out for us and make sure I don’t (cover) Justin Jefferson alone, you know what I mean? Those types of scenarios,” said  Kaden Elliss.

“Even in the meeting room, people are a little on edge at times,” Falcons inside linebacker JD Bertrand said. “Like, he does a good job of cold calling people and ensuring they are always on their Ps and Qs. So, I think there’s that side, but there’s also a side that he understands the game and he understands linebacker responsibilities, so he’s able to very much emphasize and verbalize from a linebacker perspective how to play each different role.”