Now back for his second stint calling plays for the Atlanta Falcons' defense, coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is different -- but similar in important ways.

The Falcons brought Jeff Ulbrich back to Atlanta, naming their former assistant as defensive coordinator on Saturday night. Ulbrich, who spent much of last season as the New York Jets' interim coach,

The Atlanta Falcons have found their new defensive coordinator. The team is hiring Jeff Ulbrich, the Jets' former defensive coordinator who spent the majority of the 2024 season as New York's interim head coach,

The #Falcons are hiring Jeff Ulbrich as their defensive coordinator, per sources. A former NFL linebacker, Ulbrich finished last season as the #Jets interim coach. Now he reunites with close friend Raheem Morris in Atlanta, where they worked together from 2015-20. pic.twitter.com/aw1BJexL6L

The Jets interviewed Ulbrich for their full-time coaching position, but he was always a long shot to get the job.

Jeff Ulbrich, who served as the Jets’ interim head coach for the final 12 games of the 2024 season, has landed a new job. The Falcons are hiring Ulbrich as their defensive coordinator. Ulbrich had been with the Jets since 2021.

The Atlanta Falcons are hiring Ulbrich as their new defensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per sources informed of the situation. The team announced the hire shortly after the report.

Jeff Ulbrich takes over as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator after the team fired Jimmy Lake following an 8-9 season.

For some of those teams, that will involve finding new head coaches and/or General Managers. Three teams fired their head coaches during the season and two more have been dispatched as of 9 a.m. ET on January 6.

With Johnson heading to Chicago and Mike Vrabel already in New England, five head coaching vacancies remain. The Jets, Saints, Jaguars, Raiders and Cowboys are still in the hunt. Johnson, who was Detroit’s offensive coordinator, agreed to become the Chicago Bears head coach on Monday, two days after the No. 1 seeded Lions lost to Washington.

It’s not uncommon for players to follow their coordinators to new teams. With the Jets having several defensive free agents entering the 2025