Jeff Ulbrich opens up on the ‘lack of truth’ that hurt Jets during 12-game stint as head coach

Jeff Ulbrich opens up on the ‘lack of truth’ that hurt Jets during 12-game stint as head coach

Regrets, he has a few.

Jeff Ulbrich revealed Monday some of the things that went wrong during his 12-game stint as the Jets’ interim head coach following the firing of Robert Saleh.

Ulbrich joined the Falcons as their new defensive coordinator after he held the same position with the Jets, who went 3-9 with Ulbrich as an interim coach.

Jeff Ulbrich is introduced as the Falcons defensive coordinator on Jan. 27, 2025.
Jeff Ulbrich is introduced as the Falcons defensive coordinator on Jan. 27, 2025. AP

The 47-year-old said a “lack of truth” was one of the biggest issues he experienced as the Jets spiraled.

“I learned even more than I knew the value of truth-tellers on your staff,” Ulbrich said.

“There’s certain things that need to be told to the head coach that are occurring because a lot of times what I found in that interim role was, although it was interim, it was like I felt the shift in the way people talked to me and treated me and what they said to me and the lack of truth sometimes was really detrimental, you know?

“So it just it reinforced the idea that [Falcons head coach Raheem Morris] is going to need me in that way, to make sure that I’m always telling the truth and maybe, you know, eliminating some of the blind spots that he doesn’t see.”

Ulbrich also realized that not delegating his defensive coordinator responsibilities after becoming the interim coach was a mistake.

“There is an element of a failure for myself in that way because I didn’t delegate,” Ulbrich said. “I didn’t. I just took it all on myself. In my mind’s eye, I was trying to create continuity and I didn’t want a fractious staff.

The Jets went 3-9 with Jeff Ulbrich as the interim head coach.
The Jets went 3-9 with Jeff Ulbrich as the interim head coach. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

“I thought the best thing for me to do at that point in time was just try to keep everybody in the same role that they had just so we could keep things rolling. And it wasn’t the right thing to do. It wasn’t as I look back. I should have delegated. I should have given the defensive coordinator responsibilities to someone else.”

Ulbrich interviewed for the full-time Jets gig that eventually went to Aaron Glenn, and Ulbrich returned to Atlanta, where he coached linebackers from 2015-20.

— With AP

Related Posts

Travis Hunter forks out .3m on lavish Jacksonville mansion after being drafted by Jaguars

Travis Hunter forks out $3.3m on lavish Jacksonville mansion after being drafted by Jaguars

New Jaguars star Travis Hunter has found his home in Jacksonville after spending $3.3million on a breathtaking 13-room mansion ahead of his rookie year. Hunter, who was…

Kansas City Chiefs weigh major stadium decision that could lead Patrick Mahomes & Co to leave state

Kansas City Chiefs weigh major stadium decision that could lead Patrick Mahomes & Co to leave state

The Kansas City Chiefs have secured Missouri state financial aid for renovations at Arrowhead Stadium while the team continues to entertain a competing offer from neighboring Kansas…

Disgraced NFL star Greg Hardy slams ‘rumors’ after shocking arrest for allegedly ᴀssaulting family member

Disgraced NFL star Greg Hardy slams ‘rumors’ after shocking arrest for allegedly ᴀssaulting family member

Disgraced former NFL star and UFC fighter Greg Hardy is calling for privacy after his latest domestic violence arrest in Texas. On Tuesday, the 36-year-old posted video…

Kansas City Chiefs lose key member of Super Bowl-winning team

Kansas City Chiefs lose key member of Super Bowl-winning team

The Kansas City Chiefs have lost an important member of their team as they won multiple Super Bowls in the past few seasons. Andy Hill, an ᴀssistant…

BREAKING NEWSCommanders suffer major blow before start of 2025 season as star is carted off field in offseason training

BREAKING NEWSCommanders suffer major blow before start of 2025 season as star is carted off field in offseason training

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown was carted off the field during the team’s mandatory mini camp on Wednesday.  Brown, one of the team’s integral offensive players,…

Aaron Rodgers’ staggering nine-figure NFL earnings revealed amid marriage bombshell… but did QB sign a prenup?

Aaron Rodgers’ staggering nine-figure NFL earnings revealed amid marriage bombshell… but did QB sign a prenup?

When Aaron Rodgers stepped in front of a podium after his first practice as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, he shocked the gathered press and the NFL…