The New York Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh today after the team fell to 2-3 with their overseas loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. After three years as the head coach of the Jets, it was clear that Saleh isn’t the guy for this team.
The Jets have a former head coach on the staff in offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, but considering how bad he was in Denver and how bad the Jets offense is under his watch, Jets owner Woody Johnson decided to give defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich a chance to try and turn the team around.
“He is a tough coach who has the respect of the coaches and players on this team,” Johnson said in the statement. “I believe he, along with the coaches on this staff, can get the most out of our talented team and attain the goal we established this offseason.”
The 47-year-old Ulbrich joined the Jets in 2021 when Saleh took over as the team’s head coach after previously serving as the Falcons defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Ulbrich is a California native who spent 10 seasons in the NFL, all with the San Francisco 49ers, as a player before transitioning into coaching. He began his coaching career as an assistant special teams coach with the Seattle Seahawks from 2010 to 2011.
Ulbrich got a chance to taste what it was like to be a head coach earlier this offseason when he was selected to be one of the head coaches for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. His passion for football and for the brotherhood of the game was evident to the players on his team.
𝙀𝙓𝘾𝙇𝙐𝙎𝙄𝙑𝙀 pre-game footage of newly appointed Jets HC Jeff Ulbrich from 2024 @seniorbowl. No doubt Ulbrich can connect with & motivate players. Lions HC Dan Campbell also coached in Mobile recently and Brick has similar genuine presence/voice.#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/yimQgUxd75
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) October 8, 2024
Under Ulbrich, the Jets have been one of the NFL’s best defenses over the last few seasons. After finishing last in the NFL in yards and points per game in his first season in New York, the Jets have fielded a top-five unit in total defense. Since 2022, New York has allowed the fewest yards per game (295.8) of any team in the NFL.
Ulbrich also coached several Jets defenders to individual honors, including cornerback Sauce Gardner, Quincy Williams Jermaine Johnson and Quinnen Williams.
Ulbrich the Future?
Ulbrich is a fiery leader who demands a lot out of his players and of himself.
Coach Jeff Ulbrich's message to Jets fans: "I'm very excited about connecting with this locker room and elevating everybody." pic.twitter.com/gVAjr88zwS
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 8, 2024
Coach Jeff Ulbrich's message he delivered to the team: pic.twitter.com/EScGBVbyLx
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 8, 2024
In reality, he is absolutely correct when he says that the Jets have everything they need to make a run at a championship, but it will take some tremendous work on his part to get the team to where it needs to be.
As for Ulbrich, he will have a 12 game audition to be a head coach with the Jets or even with another team. This is similar to another former linebacker in the NFL getting a shot to show he could lead a team just like Antonio Pierce and the Las Vegas Raiders.
I believe Ulbrich has the ability to light a fire under the team and perhaps remove the interim tag. The Jets would love nothing more than to make Ulbrich the head coach going forward, because it would have likely meant he led the team to the playoffs. He has the players and the personality to have success as a head coach in the limited time he has. Hopefully he is able to capitalize on it for the Jets' sake.
