NY Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich received 'rave reviews' at the Senior Bowl
By Justin Fried
![NY Jets, Jeff Ulbrich NY Jets, Jeff Ulbrich](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3000,h_1687,x_0,y_220/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/30/01hnvpyttx730mz25n61.jpg)
The NY Jets' offensive coaching staff may not be held in high regard around the NFL, but the same cannot be said for their defensive staff. While head coach Robert Saleh understandably garners much of the attention, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been making waves in coaching circles, too.
Ulbrich received one of the most significant opportunities of his coaching career last week when he was selected as the head coach of the National Team in the 2024 Senior Bowl.
It's an honor that is typically reserved for the top up-and-coming assistant coaches around the league, and by all accounts, Ulbrich maximized his opportunity and made a strong impression.
Ulbrich led his National Team to a 16-7 victory on the back of four defensive takeaways. After the game, Ulbrich insisted that one of his biggest takeaways from the week was that it got him excited about what could be in store for him in the future.
A head coach opportunity might be in the cards for Ulbrich one day. His performance at the Senior Bowl certainly helped his case.
Rave reviews for #Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich for his work with the National team at the @seniorbowl all week long. Really good practices, positive feedback from the players and a nice job yesterday winning the game with a severely shorthanded roster. https://t.co/WXhOmCL7o2
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 4, 2024
NY Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is primed to be a future NFL head coach
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported on Sunday that Ulbrich received "rave reviews" for his coaching job down in Mobile. His stock is quickly rising in the coaching world, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him start to receive some head coach interviews in the near future.
In all honesty, it's surprising it hasn't happened already. Ulbrich doesn't call plays for the Jets' defense, which is likely what has kept him under the radar of many teams to this point. He's in Saleh's shadow, but that doesn't mean his impact on the defense isn't felt.
Ulbrich deserves credit for helping develop a number of players on the Jets' roster. His background as a former NFL linebacker and linebackers coach certainly aided him in the development of Quincy Williams.
The former Atlanta Falcons assistant is well-liked by players and held in high regard around the league. He needed an opportunity to step outside of Saleh's shadow, and this year's Senior Bowl presented him with just that.
If the Jets' defense performs well again in 2024 and, perhaps most importantly, if the team actually wins some games, Ulbrich should start to receive some calls from other NFL teams. His stock is on the rise.
manual