Falcons Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich Loses Wife Cristina to Cancer

Ulbrich had missed the team's first three days of training camp while his wife battled illness.

Published: 7/31/2026, 11:53:31 PM EDT

Falcons Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich Loses Wife Cristina to Cancer — Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich of the New York Jets and his wife, Cristina Ulbrich, embrace prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 14, 2024. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Cristina Ulbrich, wife of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, died Thursday following a battle with cancer, the Falcons announced. She was 48.

The organization confirmed her death in a press release Friday, calling her "a devoted wife, mother, and friend whose strength, grace, and resilience touched all who knew her.”

Ulbrich had missed the team's first three days of training camp while his wife battled illness.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank offered a personal tribute to Cristina Ulbrich, praising her devotion to her family through hardship.

"Cristina will always be an important part of our Falcons family. My heart is with Jeff, Samantha, Jax, Jace and the entire Ulbrich family during this unimaginable time," Blank said in a statement. "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."

He added that Cristina's legacy is her family. "The greatest legacy Cristina leaves behind is the family she loved so completely, and her strength and spirit will continue to shine through them," he said.

Head Coach Pledges Support

Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski addressed reporters Friday, describing the loss as devastating for everyone connected to the team.

"It's a difficult time for the Ulbrich family. It's a difficult time for the Falcons family. It's a difficult time for everyone who knew and loved Cristina," Stefanski said. "Like any family, we will support Jeff and the kids. We will put our arms around him and the kids, literally, as an organization."

Stefanski said Jeff Ulbrich would speak publicly when he feels ready, and noted that the franchise’s commitment to the family extends beyond the immediate aftermath. "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," he said.

Former Teams Offer Condolences

Ulbrich's coaching career has taken him through several NFL organizations, and two of his former teams publicly mourned Cristina's death.

The San Francisco 49ers, where Ulbrich spent 10 seasons as a player, expressed condolences in a post on X. "The Ulbrichs will always be part of the 49ers family," the team wrote. "Our deepest condolences to Jeff, his children, and all who loved Cristina."

The New York Jets, where Ulbrich served as defensive coordinator for four seasons and later as interim head coach during the final 12 games of the 2024 season, also shared a message of support. "The New York Jets are heartbroken by the passing of Jeff Ulbrich's wife, Cristina, after her courageous battle with cancer," the team said. "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."

Jeff Ulbrich, 49, spent a decade in the NFL as a linebacker and special teams player before transitioning into coaching, with stops at Seattle, UCLA, an earlier stint in Atlanta, and the Jets. He is in his second season as the Falcons' defensive coordinator.