Jeff Ulbrich’s family life is one of those rare NFL stories where the spotlight doesn’t just stay on the coach but spills over into the lives of his wife and kids, revealing a tight-knit, sometimes messy, but always real dynamic. At the center of it all is Cristina Ulbrich, the woman who has been Jeff’s rock since the late ’90s, back when he was just a college recruit visiting Hawaii and she was a student there.
Their love story wasn’t some grand, cinematic romance but the kind that builds slowly, grounded in shared struggles and small victories. When Jeff transitioned from playing to coaching in 2009, money was tight, and vacations were off the table until he landed a stable job. Cristina held things down, not just as a supportive spouse but as the glue that kept the family intact while Jeff navigated the unpredictable world of NFL coaching. Today, they’re settled in New Jersey, where family dinners and downtime take priority over the usual NFL hustle, a testament to how much they value staying connected despite the demands of Jeff’s high-pressure career.
Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich Shares Three Children With His Wife, Cristina Ulbrich
Their three kids—Samantha, Jax, and Jace—each have their own distinct personalities, making the Ulbrich household anything but boring. Daughter Samantha, the oldest, has always been the calm in the storm. There’s a sweet old story from Jeff’s playing days with the 49ers where he plopped his helmet on toddler Samantha’s head, a moment that perfectly captures their bond. Now in her early twenties, she’s the low-key one, the steady presence who doesn’t crave the spotlight.
Then there’s Jax, the middle child and the one who recently found himself in the middle of an unexpected NFL-related drama. At 21, he’s a running back at Berry College, balancing football with a business major, but it was his off-field antics that made headlines. During the 2025 NFL Draft, Jax pulled a prank that spiraled way beyond a typical college kid’s joke—he got hold of Shedeur Sanders’ contact info and impersonated the Saints’ GM in a call that ended up going viral after Sanders streamed it live.
The fallout was messy, with the Falcons having to issue an apology and the league looking into whether draft protocols were breached. Jax owned up to it, calling his actions selfish and childish in a public apology, but the whole thing was a reminder of how quickly private family moments can become public drama when you’re connected to the NFL.
Then there’s Jace, the youngest, who seems to have inherited the family’s competitive spirit but without the same urge to be front and center. A student at the University of San Diego, he’s been described as the quiet storm, the kind of kid who doesn’t say much but makes an impact when he does. While Jax’s prank dominated recent conversations, Jace represents the other side of the Ulbrich kids—the one who’s content flying under the radar.
Together, the three siblings paint a picture of a family that’s normal in all the best ways, full of sibling dynamics, mistakes, and growth, even if their last name carries a bit more weight than most.
When Jeff Ulbrich’s Son Jax’s Prank Call Went Viral, They Showed What Real Family Looks Like
The prank incident was a flashpoint, but it also showed how the Ulbrichs handle adversity. Jeff and Cristina didn’t make excuses for Jax. Instead, they emphasized accountability, and the Falcons even helped facilitate a direct apology to the Sanders family. It was a messy situation, but it didn’t derail Jeff’s role as defensive coordinator, nor did it fracture the family.
If anything, it highlighted how NFL families navigate the weird intersection of personal and public life, where a kid’s impulsive decision can suddenly become league-wide news. Through it all, Cristina’s influence is clear—she’s the steadying force, the one who keeps everything from spiraling when outside noise gets loud.
What stands out about the Ulbrichs isn’t just their connection to football but the way they’ve managed to stay grounded despite the chaos that comes with it. Jeff could easily be one of those coaches who’s all consumed by the game, but he’s made it clear that family comes first, whether that means skipping team events to be home or navigating the fallout of a viral prank with patience and perspective.
Cristina’s role can’t be overstated—she’s the backbone, the one who’s been there through every career shift, every move, every challenge. And the kids? They’re just figuring life out, like any other young adults, except their missteps sometimes play out in public. The Ulbrichs aren’t a perfect family, but they’re a real one, and that’s what makes their story so compelling.
Beyond the headlines, there’s a sense of normalcy in how they operate. Family dinners, inside jokes, the kind of mundane moments that don’t make the news but are the foundation of who they are. Jax’s prank might have been the thing that put them in the spotlight recently, but it’s not the defining chapter of their story. If anything, it’s just a blip in the larger narrative of a family that’s learned to roll with the punches, to laugh at themselves, and to stick together when things get messy.
In a league where personal lives often take a backseat to the game, the Ulbrichs are a reminder that behind every coach, there’s a family making it work, one day at a time.
