FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons continued their search for a defensive coordinator by conducting a virtual interview with New York Jets interim coach and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, the team announced Wednesday.
The talks with Ulbrich, a former Atlanta assistant, came after the Falcons announced on Tuesday they interviewed University of Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
The Falcons fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and defensive line coach Jay Rodgers on Saturday after an 8-9 record extended their streak losing seasons and years missing the NFL playoffs to seven in a row.
Ulbrich was 3-9 as interim coach this season after the Jets fired coach Robert Saleh, who also could be a candidate to lead Atlanta’s defense. Saleh has interviewed to be defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
Ulbrich also interviewed for the Jets’ full-time head coaching job on Monday. He was an assistant for Atlanta from 2015-20.
During his time with the Falcons, Ulbrich served as linebackers coach (2015-19), assistant head coach/linebackers coach (2020) and interim defensive coordinator (2020).
Martindale was the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator from 2022-23. He previously served as the defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos. Martindale served on the Ravens’ staff from 2012-21 and also coached for the Oakland Raiders from 2004-08 before his two years in Denver.
The Falcons ranked 23rd in the league in total defense and with their average of 24.9 points per game allowed during the regular season, closing with back-to-back overtime losses in which they gave up 30 or more points.