Potential 49ers defensive coordinator candidate Jeff Ulbrich was hired by the Atlanta Falcons for the same role.

Now back for his second stint calling plays for the Atlanta Falcons' defense, coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is different -- but similar in important ways.

One of those names is interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. Originally the defensive coordinator but promoted to the role after New York fired Robert Saleh, Ulbrich went 3-9 at the helm and failed to turn around the Jets season. After interviewing for the head coaching job last week, Ulbrich didn't want to wait to be told no by New York.

The San Francisco 49ers appear to have their sites set on former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as their No. 1 option in their search for a new defensive coordinator.

The San Francisco 49ers search for a new defensive coordinator has not necessarily gotten off the ground. Robert Saleh is seen as the top candidate.

Saleh, who was fired in October as the New York Jets head coach five games into his fourth season, generated interest on the head-coaching front and was seen as one of the frontrunners for the Jacksonville Jaguars job. He also interviewed with the Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.

Saleh was fired as the Jets’ coach five games into this season and is now back with the 49ers, where he made his name in the NFL.

The Atlanta Falcons conducted a virtual interview with New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich for their vacant defensive coordinator position on Wednesday. Ulbrich, who also was defensive coordinator,

The New York Jets' defensive stats bombed after Robert Saleh was fired, but does that actually tell an accurate story?

College-to-NFL head coaching jumps have been a rare occurrence in recent seasons. Fourty-three head coaches were hired between the 2019 and 2024 offseasons, and just four of them came directly from the college ranks: Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona Cardinals,

Mike Rutenberg has been named the Falcons' defensive passing game coordinator, while Nate Ollie has been tapped as the defensive line coach. Both Rutenberg and Ollie worked with new Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich with the New York Jets. Rutenberg did so from 2021-24. Ollie only did in 2021.