Cristina Ulbrich, the wife of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, has died of cancer. She was 48.
“Cristina was a devoted wife, mother, and friend whose strength, grace, and resilience touched all who knew her,” the team said in a statement on Thursday, July 30. “She was a constant source of love and support to Jeff, their family, and the broader Falcons community.”
The statement continued, “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. 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 and Jeff, 49, share sons Jax and Jace and daughter Samantha. The couple met in 1997, when Jeff was on a recruiting trip to the University of Hawaii.
“Cristina will always be an important part of our Falcons family,” team owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. “My heart is with Jeff, Samantha, Jax, Jace and the entire Ulbrich family during this unimaginable time.”
Blank, 83, continued, “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. My family and I, along with the entire Falcons family, send our love and prayers for strength to everyone mourning her loss. The greatest legacy Cristina leaves behind is the family she loved so completely, and her strength and spirit will continue to shine through them.”
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski called Cristina’s death “a difficult time” for the organization.
“Like any family, we will support Jeff and the kids and we’ll put our arms around him and the kids, literally and as an organization,” Stefanski, 44, told reporters on Friday, July 31. “I’ll let Jeff address you guys when the time is appropriate and he can share his thoughts. But just so you guys know, we are obviously with him and the kids in the short-term and in the long-term.”
Stefanski added, “It’s heartbreaking, and we’ll make sure we are a family through all of this.”
The New York Jets, where Jeff coached from 2021 to 2024, also issued a statement about Cristina’s death on Thursday.
“Cristina will be remembered for her warmth, strength and unwavering devotion to her family,” the team said. “We extend our deepest condolences and love to Jeff, their children and all who knew and loved her.”
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