Cristina Ulbrich, the wife of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, has passed away. Public records indicate that she was 48.
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The team announced the news on Thursday with a release. They said that she had passed after a battle with cancer.
The couple met while Ulbrich did a recruiting visit at the University of Hawaii. They forged a relationship and ultimately wed as Ulbrich played for the Warriors defense. She and Ulbrich shared three children — Samantha, Jax, and Jace.
Sending all of our Aloha to Jeff Ulbrich & his family. Cristina was always his #1 fan - Here's a clip from 1999 when Jeff set the Hawai'i single season record w/ 169 tackles as the co-captain helped lead the Rainbow Warriors to a WAC Championship as a senior ❤️ https://t.co/8jgDm2w2Hc pic.twitter.com/woM0neh8gO
— Rob DeMello (@RobDeMelloKHON) July 31, 2026
"It's a difficult time for the Ulbrich family," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "It's a difficult time for the Falcons family. It's a difficult time for everyone who knew and loved Cristina.
"Like any family, we will support Jeff and the kids. We will put our arms around him and the kids, literally, as an organization.
"I will let Jeff address you guys when the time is appropriate and he can share his thoughts, but just wanted everyone to know that we are obviously with him and the kids in the short term and the long term. We will make sure that we put our arms around them. ... It's heartbreaking, and we will make sure we are a family through all of this."
Ulbrich spent 10 years playing in the NFL (2000-09), all with the San Francisco 49ers. He then immediately moved into coaching as a defensive assistant for the Seattle Seahawks (2010-11).
He moved to UCLA for three seasons before joining the Atlanta Falcons as a linebackers coach in 2015. He remained in this role through the 2020 season before joining the New York Jets as defensive coordinator in 2021. He also served as interim head coach of the team in 2024.
Ulbrich returned to the Atlanta Falcons in 2025 to take over as defensive coordinator. He will hold this role once more in 2026. Although he will remain away from the team for an unknown amount of time.
"The New York Jets are heartbroken by the passing of Jeff Ulbrich's wife, Cristina, after her courageous battle with cancer," the team said in a statement.
"Cristina will be remembered for her warmth, strength and unwavering devotion to her family. We extend our deepest condolences and love to Jeff, their children and all who knew and loved her."
