Jeff Ulbrich to Coach Senior Bowl

Glenn Naughton mentioned the other day that New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will be a head coach at the Senior Bowl. JetNation will be reporting live from the Senior Bowl. Here is the official release with additional information.

Coaches from teams selecting Nos. 7 and 10 in 2024 NFL Draft to lead teams for top pre-draft event

MOBILE, Alabama – The Reese’s Senior Bowl today announced that Tennessee Titans Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach Terrell Williams (American team) and New York Jets Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich (National team) will serve as head coaches for the historic 75^th Anniversary Reese’s Senior Bowl to be played on Saturday February 3, 2024, at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama.  All three days of practice will be televised on both NFL Network and ESPN and the game itself will be aired live on the NFL Network at Noon CT.  The Titans have the seventh overall pick, and the Jets own the tenth selection in the 2023 NFL draft.

This is the second year the Senior Bowl is implementing a “Coach Up” format where coordinators and assistant coaches are placed into elevated or different roles from the ones they currently hold with their respective clubs.  Head coaches and general managers from all non-playoff teams and Wild Card round participants had the opportunity to nominate assistant coaches and those candidates were then selected by a group comprised of league office executives and representatives from the General Managers Advisory Committee.  In total, at least one coach from all 18 teams that submitted nominations were chosen for this year’s game.

In addition to the head coach appointees, the following individuals were selected as coordinators for the American and National squads:

American

Offensive Coordinator                      New England Patriots Wide Receivers Coach Troy Brown

Defensive Coordinator                      Cleveland Browns Defensive Backs Coach Ephraim Banda

Special Teams Coordinator                             New York Giants Assistant Special Teams Coach Mike Adams

National

Offensive Coordinator                      New York Giants Quarterbacks Coach Shea Tierney

Defensive Coordinator                      Minnesota Vikings Pass Game Coord/Defensive Backs Coach Daronte Jones

Special Teams Coordinator                             New Orleans Saints Assistant Special Teams Coach Phil Galiano

The Reese’s Senior Bowl is coming off three consecutive drafts with at least 100 players selected, which has represented over 40 percent of the entire past three draft classes. Over the past five drafts (2019-2023), 87.2% of the players wound up making an active 53-man NFL roster at some point during their rookie season. Those five rosters have included many of the NFL’s brightest young stars, including: QB Justin Herbert (Chargers), WR Brandon Aiyuk (49ers), QB Jalen Hurts (Eagles), DB Kyle Dugger (Patriots), WR Terry McLaurin (Commanders), OL Chris Lindstrom (Falcons), WR Deebo Samuel (49ers), OL Elgton Jenkins (Packers), RB Tony Pollard (Cowboys), DL Montez Sweat (Bears), LB Logan Wilson (Bengals), OL Landon Dickerson (Eagles), RB Najee Harris (Steelers), WR Nico Collins (Texans), WR Devonta Smith (Eagles), OL Creed Humphrey (Chiefs), CB Cam Taylor-Britt (Bengals), OLB Boye Mafe (Seahawks), DS Kerby Joseph (Lions), DS Jalen Pitre (Texans), CB Tariq Woolen (Seahawks), WR Christian Watson (Packers), LB Terrel Bernard (Bills), OLB Jermaine Johnson (Jets), TE Jake Ferguson (Cowboys), RB Rachaad White (Buccaneers), TE Trey McBride (Cardinals), WR Puka Nacua (Rams), WR Rashee Rice (Chiefs), WR Tank Dell (Texans), OLB Byron Young (Rams), DE YaYa Diaby (Buccaneers), OL Darnell Wright, DL Keeanu Benton (Steelers), CB Tyrique Stevenson (Bears), LB Ivan Pace Jr. (Vikings), and WR Jayden Reed (Packers) .

Statement from Reese’s Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy:

“We’re excited about having two highly respected coaches like Jeff Ulbrich and Terrell Williams lead our teams here in Mobile.  I’ve spoken with coaches and executives from around the league about both men and they have excellent reputations as communicators and motivators.  I had a chance to observe Jeff down here at the Senior Bowl two years ago when the Jets staff coached in the game and he brought tons of juice to his defensive players so I know he’ll bring great energy to the role.  I met Terrell years ago when he was the defensive line coach at Purdue and always came away impressed with how he connected with his guys at practice.  Our players are going to have a great week working under these two men.”

Statement from New York Jets Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich:

“I’m extremely honored to be chosen as one of the head coaches for the Senior Bowl. This game has featured some of the greatest players in NFL history and remains as one of the highest honors that can be given to a college football player. It also has consistently given under-the-radar players from big and small school schools alike an opportunity to compete against the best. Compete in a venue with the guidance of NFL coaches and get unrivaled exposure to every NFL team. This game is also a critical part of my story. I played in the 2000 Senior Bowl and went from a potentially undrafted rookie to a third round pick, which is actually pretty common throughout the history of this storied game. Again, I’m honored and excited about helping and guiding the newest class of NFL players through this amazing week. Can’t wait to see everyone in Mobile.”

Statement from New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh on Jeff Ulbrich:

“Jeff Ulbrich is a true leader that consistently shows the ability to connect with players and get the most out of them. His work as both a player and a coach in the NFL makes him ready for this experience, and I know he will serve as a tremendous asset to everyone he engages with in Mobile. Our organization has first-hand experience working with the tremendous people at the Senior Bowl and we are grateful they have identified Jeff for this. It will give people a look at the great work we see from him every day at our facility.”

Statement from Tennessee Titans Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach Terrell Williams:

“I’m super excited about the opportunity to coach in the 2024 Senior Bowl. It’s a great opportunity to help these college players get some exposure into what professional football is all about. I’m very thankful to Mike Vrabel for nominating me for this honor. I’m looking forward to working with coaches and other Senior Bowl personnel to make sure this is a great experience for the players.”

Statement from former Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel on Terrell Williams:

“There is no more deserving person to be a head coach for the Senior Bowl or any level than Terrell Williams. His loyalty, dedication, and service to the Titans program for the last six years has not gone unnoticed. Terrell is a creative teacher and developer who also makes a unique connection with his players and those on the other side of the ball. I can’t thank him enough for the impact that he has made on me personally as well as with our team. I am excited to watch him excel as a head coach in the Senior Bowl.”