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When it’s time for football, it’s football, but when it’s time for family, it’s only the family! That’s how New York Jets defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich works. And this clearly shows that despite being in such a tough job of coaching, Ulbrich considers himself a family man.

Jeff Ulbrich and his wife, Cristina Ulbrich, have now been married for many years. When Jeff left his “freshman job for a sheet metal factory in northern California,” he returned to football to follow his passion. And during that time, when “in 1997, he took a recruiting visit to the University of Hawaii,” Jeff met his then-future wife, Cristina. Now, together the couple shares a daughter, Samantha, and two sons, Jax and Jace.

Jeff Ulbrich and his wife are very close to each other, and this is evident from the example when his team went out for road trips or partying at night, the coach would prefer to “retreat back to the hotel, so that he could spend time with his wife and kids.” Hence, in the offseason or whenever he is back at home, Jeff becomes, “Cristina’s husband, and a father to Samantha, Jax and Jace.”

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Now, together the couple lives in New Jersey with their kids, enjoying a stable home life, besides “providing a convenient environment for the entire family.” In this way, Jeff Ulbrich gives his dedicated time to football, but also comes back to his family to live the major part of his life.

Similarly, Cristina supports her husband in every phase of life and has played a pivotal role in helping him balance his personal and professional life. The depth of her support for Jeff Ulbrich became especially evident during a challenging period in their lives.

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Is Jeff Ulbrich's success in the NFL partly due to the unwavering support of his wife, Cristina?

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Jeff Ulbrich’s wife, Cristina, showed her support when the coach needed it the most!

When Jeff Ulbrich was pretty sure that after the 2009 season with the 49ers, his playing career would come to an end, he started looking for coaching jobs in December 2009. During a challenging period when Ulbrich wasn’t securing a coaching job, his family stood by him in a unique way. Instead of helping him search for work, they provided a more profound form of support. After moving to their new home in Gilroy, his wife, Cristina Ulbrich, demonstrated her support by forgoing vacations and outings.

While recalling the incident, Mrs. Ulbrich said that they were aware of Jeff’s break being temporary. Hence, they decided, “We’re not taking any vacations or going anywhere until he has something down. We know Jeff’s coaching can take us anywhere, just like with playing. I’m on board and so are the kids.”

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Later on in 2010, Jeff Ulbrich got an assistant special teams coordinator job at Seattle Seahawks, before earning a spot in the Jets group as a DC.

Take a look at our latest Think Tank exclusive interview with Doug Sanders, which is packed with insights on the current NFL season, college football, NIL, and much more.

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Is Jeff Ulbrich's success in the NFL partly due to the unwavering support of his wife, Cristina?