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Falcons coach Jeff Ulbrich reunites with team after wife's tragic death Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich's wife Cristina passed away last week, and the 49-year-old has returned to coaching the unit as training camp unfolds Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has linked back up with the team after his wife’s tragic death. Last week, Cristina Ulbrich passed away from an unspecified cancer. She was 48 years old and left behind three children — Samantha, Jax and Jace — all with Ulbrich. The pair met in 1997 at the University of Hawaii, where Ulbrich played college football. After they tied the knot, Cristina was a regular at Ulbrich’s games as a player for the San Francisco 49ers and was pictured alongside him at a game when he became the New York Jets' interim head coach in 2024. Ulbrich first joined the Falcons as a linebacker coach in 2015. He spent six seasons in Atlanta before coaching with the Jets from 2021 to 2024, and he returned to Atlanta ahead of the 2025 season. However, Ulbrich was absent from the field for a period of time following Cristina's death. But he returned to training camp this week, with WSB-TV's Zach Klein writing on social media: “Great to see Falcons' defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich back at training camp — heavy hearts during practice for sure.” Ulbrich joined the Falcons in 2025 and retained his role after head coach Raheem Morris was fired. Given her previous time in Atlanta, Cristina was a well-known figure within the organization — and the Falcons offered their condolences following her passing. “The Atlanta Falcons are heartbroken by the passing of Cristina Ulbrich ... after her courageous battle with cancer,” the organization said in a statement on July 30. “Cristina was a devoted wife, mother, and friend whose strength, grace, and resilience touched all who knew her. She was a constant source of love and support to Jeff, their family, and the broader Falcons community.” Sign up to our NFL newsletter here Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank also spoke out, insisting Cristina would “always be an important part of (the) Falcons family.” His statement read: “It was always evident how deeply Cristina loved her family and how fiercely she supported them. “She faced every challenge with extraordinary courage, strength, and grace, inspiring so many through the way she lived and the way she fought. The greatest legacy Cristina leaves behind is the family she loved so completely, and her strength and spirit will continue to shine through them.” Kevin Stefanski, who became Falcons head coach earlier this year, acknowledged it was a “difficult time” for both Ulbrich and the organization. “We, like any family, we will support Jeff and the kids, and we'll put our arms around him and the kids literally and as an organization, and I'll let Jeff address (the press) when the time is appropriate, and he can share his thoughts, but just so you know,” Stefanski told reporters in a press conference.