By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-07-31 00:12:06 | Updated at 2026-07-31 01:05:52
56 minutes ago
Cristina Ulbrich, the wife of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, has passed away after battling cancer, the team announced Thursday.
Her specific form of cancer has not been revealed, but Cristina had been battling the disease for at least a year.
'A few of us caught up with [Jeff] pregame last season at Levi's [Stadium in Santa Clara] and he shared with us how strong, courageous & loving Cristina had been,' Bay Area News Group's Cam Inman reported on X.
A mother to the couple's three children, Samantha, Jax and Jace, Cristina has been at Jeff's side for years as the former NFL linebacker rose up the league's coaching ranks.
When Jeff was promoted to interim head coach of the New York Jets following Robert Saleh's firing in 2024, the smiling Cristina was pictured kissing her husband as he prepared for his first game in charge of the team.
As The Athletic reported in 2023, Jeff met Cristina while on a recruiting trip to the University of Hawaii in 1997. The couple has maintained a private life away from the football field, but fans still shared their condolences in response to the team's online statement.
When Jeff was promoted to interim head coach of the New York Jets in 2024, the smiling Cristina was pictured offering her husband encouragement as he prepared for his first game
Jeff Ulbrich kisses his wife Cristina before his Jets played the Bills in October of 2024
'The Atlanta Falcons are heartbroken by the passing of Cristina Ulbrich, beloved wife of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, after her courageous battle with cancer,' the statement began.
'Cristina was a devoted wife, mother, and friend whose strength, grace, and resilience touched all who knew her. She was a constant source of love and support to Jeff, their family, and the broader Falcons community.
'On behalf of the entire organization, we extend our deepest condolences to Jeff, their children, and all who loved Cristina. During this incredibly difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with the Ulbrich family.'
The statement concluded with a request for privacy.
'We ask that their privacy be respected as they grieve this profound loss, and we stand with them in support and remembrance of Cristina's life.'
Cristina's exact age has not been reported, but online records claim she was born in September of 1977.
And according to Jeff's former 49ers teammate, Takeo Spikes, the couple was extremely close, particularly after the birth of their children.
'When he got around his family it was like nothing else mattered,' Spikes told The Athletic in 2023. 'He didn't care what type of day he had at the office. It was like, "i just want to make sure I'm around for them."'
