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New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
One pressing question for every new NFL defensive play caller in 2025
As summer approaches, NFL coaches and players continue to lay the foundation for the upcoming season. This week featured another round of voluntary offseason workouts and, next week, most teams will hold their mandatory minicamps and then break for roughly a month before getting back to work at training camps. Advertisement Wednesday, we took a look at one pressing question facing every new offensive play caller. Today, we turn our attention to defense, where 11 teams have new coordinators they hope can make the impact necessary for championship aspirations. Here's a question each of these new leaders must answer first. Can he solve last year's struggles for sacks and interceptions? Last season's Falcons defense struggled mightily to deliver game-changing plays. The unit ranked 31st with only 31 sacks (league leader Denver had 63) and 17th with 12 interceptions (Minnesota led the NFL with 24). It's no coincidence the Falcons' opponents had a 45.3 percent third-down conversion rate, second highest in the NFL. So head coach Raheem Morris hired Ulbrich, Atlanta's linebackers coach from 2015-20 and interim defensive coordinator in 2020, to help cure these crucial deficiencies. The Falcons drafted two edge rushers (Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.) in the first round, then added Billy Bowman Jr. and Xavier Watts to bolster their secondary. If Ulbrich can help these youngsters make meaningful impacts, Atlanta should have a chance this season to end a seven-year playoff drought. How quickly will players get comfortable in his complex system? Allen was hired after 10 seasons in New Orleans, the last three as head coach, and he has an expansive bag of tricks with varied fronts, diverse blitz packages and coverages. Asked for thoughts on their initial introduction to their new leader's system, Chicago's defensive players described Allen's philosophies as 'very complex.' Top pass rusher Montez Sweat noted how much more extensive Allen's schemes were compared to previous defenses in which he has played. It could take some time for Chicago's players to fully absorb all of Allen's defense, which isn't necessarily a good thing. Players are at their best when they can attack instinctively. There are hours of training camp and preseason practices ahead of them, but the Bears could be looking at a slow start to the season. Advertisement Will he have to revamp the defense without top pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson? The Bengals once owned a top-10 defense that complemented their explosive offense. But Cincinnati experienced a severe decline last season, which led to the firing of coordinator Lou Anarumo and hiring of Golden, formerly Notre Dame's defensive coordinator. Pass coverage was one of the Bengals' biggest weaknesses last season, as they allowed 30 touchdown passes (fourth most), a completion percentage of 64.9 and passer rating of 91.9. Cincinnati added linebackers Oren Burks and Joe Giles-Harris in the offseason and used its first-round pick on pass rusher Shemar Stewart. But the biggest piece to the puzzle remains unresolved, as top edge rusher Hendrickson remains at odds with the team over the lack of a contract extension. Hendrickson, who led the league with 17 1/2 sacks last season, received permission to seek a trade earlier this spring, but for now the sides remain at a standstill. Hendrickson's presence would dramatically improve Golden's chances for a quick turnaround, but whether the Bengals decide to pay the 30-year-old remains to be seen. Can he bring long-needed stability to an underachieving defense? The Cowboys have always had talented pieces on defense, but the philosophies have frequently changed — Dallas has had five different defensive coordinators in the last 10 seasons. The lack of continuity has made it difficult for players to reach their full potential. Dallas brass views Eberflus as a sign of hope and stability, even though he was fired as Bears head coach after three seasons. Eberflus is familiar with how things operate in Big D, having served as linebackers coach from 2011-17. But he usually takes a far more conservative approach than what Dallas' players are used to. Whether this approach fits talented pass rusher Micah Parsons remains to be seen. Priority No. 1, however, is fixing the run defense. Dallas ranked 29th in that department last season, surrendering 137.1 yards per game. Can he fill the big shoes left by Aaron Glenn's departure? While Detroit is starting over on offense with John Morton, an external replacement for Ben Johnson, the team had a succession plan in place for the loss of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (now the Jets' head coach). Sheppard, who has been linebackers coach since 2021, now steps into the role of defensive play caller. The move should ensure continuity for a unit that ranked among the league leaders in takeaways, scoring and rushing in 2024. Sheppard shares the same philosophies and also possesses a good understanding of the defense, but that doesn't mean the 37-year-old former linebacker will not experience some growing pains as he develops a feel for this larger role. Advertisement Can he mask the deficiencies of a shorthanded defense? Anarumo was viewed as a head-coach-in-the-making because of consistent success with the Bengals, but injuries and free-agent departures weakened his unit and ultimately cost him his job. Now he's in Indianapolis, where the Colts need a strong defense to shoulder the load because of uncertainty at quarterback. The only problem: Anarumo likes to run a defense founded on versatility and smarts, and the Colts lack experience at many key areas. Indy did add veteran safety Cam Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward in free agency, but injuries to linebackers Zaire Franklin and Jaylon Carlies could hamper the installation process. The young and inexperienced backups will certainly get more practice reps, which could expedite their development, but Anarumo likely will have to wait a while to see the full potential of his squad. Will his high-energy approach translate into a more punishing defense? Ask any Jaguars defensive player for his impression of the rookie defensive coordinator and that player will rave about his intensity, high level of energy and how contagious that all. The former Packers linebackers coach/run game coordinator is part of the youth movement in Jacksonville that includes first-time general manager James Gladwell, first-time head coach Liam Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. Campanile inherits a defense that ranked among the worst in the league in most major statistical categories last season, but he has visions of transforming the Jaguars into a physical, mauling defense capable of attacking in a variety of ways. But as Campanile has reminded his players often during OTAs, 'Talk is cheap,' so execution will have to match the energy for the unit to improve. Will coordinator's absence hamper defense's growth? The 50-year-old Williams has missed much of the offseason program due to what the team has described as a 'health scare.' Williams has been working remotely, communicating with assistants and players by Zoom, with inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr filling in as defensive coordinator. It's unclear when Williams, who was a defensive line coach under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, will return. Vrabel said Williams' leadership has been felt from afar and that he doesn't believe the Patriots' growth will be hampered given that Williams' absence has primarily been during voluntary workouts. The hope is that Williams returns by the start of training camp. Will a switch to the 3-4 front better suit the personnel and lead to improvement? The Saints were one of the worst tackling teams in the league last season, and that played a big role in New Orleans going 5-12 and missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year. New head coach Kellen Moore has tabbed former Chargers coach Brandon Staley to fix a defense that features aging stars and underdeveloped youngsters. Staley is switching from the 4-3 front to the 3-4, which requires some learning and adjusting of players. The hope is that the 3-4 front gives the Saints more versatility and leads to improved pass-rush effectiveness. Given the limitations of the personnel, however, Staley's unit could take its lumps while bracing for a multi-offseason rebuilding process. Can a blend of Wilks' schemes and Aaron Glenn's help solve the Jets' woes? Many regarded the Jets defense as an impactful unit under former coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Yet despite talent on multiple levels, New York struggled to protect leads and never lived up to its potential. As defensive coordinator in Detroit, Glenn was regarded as one of the best defensive minds in the game. Wilks also is highly regarded, and now they join forces in New York. Advertisement Wilks will direct the defense, but he is tasked with blending his system with Glenn's and producing a dominant unit. Both coaches say they share similar philosophies. They like to blitz, they like their units to play with aggression all over the field. So offseason workouts have been about experimentation and instruction as Wilks implements a new way of doing business. The Jets' offense could be a work in progress as quarterback Justin Fields continues to develop, but under Wilks' leadership, the defense should help keep New York in games. Can he position new faces for major impact and return San Francisco to dominant form? In his first stint as San Francisco defensive coordinator, Saleh played a key role in helping mold the 49ers into one of the top teams in the NFL. His defense delivered dominant performances to complement Kyle Shanahan's offense and helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl in the 2019 season. After three-plus seasons as Jets head coach, Saleh returns to San Francisco, where Shanahan has since had three other defensive coordinators (DeMeco Ryans, Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen). Saleh reassumed his role as DC during an offseason in which the 49ers saw significant roster retooling and the free-agent departures of Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga and Charvarius Ward. Now, Saleh will be asked to identify and develop the next wave of defensive cornerstones, which could include rookie pass rusher Mykel Williams and linebacker Nick Martin. (Top photo of Dennis Allen: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
4 first-year NFL defensive coordinators facing the toughest tasks
Some NFL teams need to get back to basics on defense, which could be why many teams hired a new defensive play-caller for the upcoming season. Some of it was natural with new coaching staffs taking over and some was due to talented coaches moving on. Regardless, here are a few defensive play-callers taking the reins in 2025 for teams that really need them to do a good job. With the Shedeur Sanders prank call surrounding his son in the rearview mirror, Ulbrich can get back to focusing on a monumental task ahead of him: trying to fix the Atlanta Falcons' porous defense. The Falcons have consistently been one of the worst defensive teams over the past decade of football and have tried to fix that by drafting both linebacker Jalon Walker and defensive end James Pearce Jr. in the first round of last month's NFL Draft. Ulbrich is the second defensive coordinator in two years for head coach Raheem Morris, who should be trying to do his best to turn it around considering the Falcons' front office has been stuck in the mud during this era of the franchise. The Falcons are a bit light in the front seven, so they'll need the expertise of Ulbrich and Morris to put them in advantageous spots. The Bears have a lineup of talented defensive players, but they didn't always play like that last season. Especially after they had their hearts broken by the Commanders on the infamous Hail Mary that was a turning point in both of their seasons. With, hopefully, a bit more support from the offensive side of the ball, the Bears' defense won't be in as many perilous situations as they were last season. Allen did a great job coordinating the Saints' defense even as the talent deteriorated over the years, so the Bears' defense should be in for a big boost with Allen calling plays. They'll probably need it as Caleb Williams and the offense continues to gel in their first year with Ben Johnson as the offensive play-caller. Staying in the NFC North, the Lions have had a defensive coordinator change as well after losing Aaron Glenn to the Jets' head coaching vacancy. For a team that very much still has Super Bowl aspirations this season, it'll be imperative that the Lions hit the ground running and get back to playing strong defense, which eluded them at the end of last season as the injuries piled up. Unlike Ulbrich and Allen, this will be Sheppard's first time as a defensive coordinator and he'll have the chance to imprint his name upon the Lions' defense. He got some reinforcements with free agent signing D.J. Reed, first-round pick Tyleik Williams and the return of star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson from injury — the cupboard isn't bare, but now it's time to see what Sheppard can do. Here's another first-year defensive coordinator. For a team that just had one of the worst records in the NFL, the Jaguars have some surprisingly high goals for the upcoming season. In a division where any of the four teams seem to have a shot to win the whole thing, it's imperative the Jaguars' new coaching staff gets up to speed immediately. They're not really as barren talent-wise as one might expect for a team that's won as few games as they have over the past few years, but one of these years they're going to have to cash in on the talent they've collected through the draft. Campanile has a tall task on his hands, but with players like Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, Foye Oluokun, Tyson Campbell and spurts of Travis Hunter, they'll have a good shot to at least improve from where they were a year ago.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
4 first-year NFL defensive coordinators facing the toughest tasks
Some NFL teams need to get back to basics on defense, which could be why many teams hired a new defensive play-caller for the upcoming season. Some of it was natural with new coaching staffs taking over and some was due to talented coaches moving on. Regardless, here are a few defensive play-callers taking the reins in 2025 for teams that really need them to do a good job. With the Shedeur Sanders prank call surrounding his son in the rearview mirror, Ulbrich can get back to focusing on a monumental task ahead of him: trying to fix the Atlanta Falcons' porous defense. The Falcons have consistently been one of the worst defensive teams over the past decade of football and have tried to fix that by drafting both linebacker Jalon Walker and defensive end James Pearce Jr. in the first round of last month's NFL Draft. Ulbrich is the second defensive coordinator in two years for head coach Raheem Morris, who should be trying to do his best to turn it around considering the Falcons' front office has been stuck in the mud during this era of the franchise. The Falcons are a bit light in the front seven, so they'll need the expertise of Ulbrich and Morris to put them in advantageous spots. The Bears have a lineup of talented defensive players, but they didn't always play like that last season. Especially after they had their hearts broken by the Commanders on the infamous Hail Mary that was a turning point in both of their seasons. With, hopefully, a bit more support from the offensive side of the ball, the Bears' defense won't be in as many perilous situations as they were last season. Allen did a great job coordinating the Saints' defense even as the talent deteriorated over the years, so the Bears' defense should be in for a big boost with Allen calling plays. They'll probably need it as Caleb Williams and the offense continues to gel in their first year with Ben Johnson as the offensive play-caller. Staying in the NFC North, the Lions have had a defensive coordinator change as well after losing Aaron Glenn to the Jets' head coaching vacancy. For a team that very much still has Super Bowl aspirations this season, it'll be imperative that the Lions hit the ground running and get back to playing strong defense, which eluded them at the end of last season as the injuries piled up. Unlike Ulbrich and Allen, this will be Sheppard's first time as a defensive coordinator and he'll have the chance to imprint his name upon the Lions' defense. He got some reinforcements with free agent signing D.J. Reed, first-round pick Tyleik Williams and the return of star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson from injury — the cupboard isn't bare, but now it's time to see what Sheppard can do. Here's another first-year defensive coordinator. For a team that just had one of the worst records in the NFL, the Jaguars have some surprisingly high goals for the upcoming season. In a division where any of the four teams seem to have a shot to win the whole thing, it's imperative the Jaguars' new coaching staff gets up to speed immediately. They're not really as barren talent-wise as one might expect for a team that's won as few games as they have over the past few years, but one of these years they're going to have to cash in on the talent they've collected through the draft. Campanile has a tall task on his hands, but with players like Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, Foye Oluokun, Tyson Campbell and spurts of Travis Hunter, they'll have a good shot to at least improve from where they were a year ago.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jeff Ulbrich received 'great support' from Falcons after son's Shedeur Sanders prank call
Jeff Ulbrich received 'great support' from Falcons after son's Shedeur Sanders prank call Show Caption Hide Caption NFL keeps 'Tush Push' in play The NFL won't ban the 'Tush Push', keeping the Eagles' high-success play in the game—for now. Jeff Ulbrich found himself in hot water after the 2025 NFL Draft, when it was revealed his son had prank called Shedeur Sanders after obtaining the Colorado quarterback's phone number from his father's open iPad. Despite this, Ulbrich revealed Wednesday he never felt like he was in danger of losing his job as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator. "In all honesty, I never went there, but I felt nothing but support from the organization in every single way – from the people that worked the line in the cafeteria to (owner) Mr. (Arthur) Blank himself, all of them," Ulbrich said Wednesday, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. "I felt great support from him. It was one of the biggest reasons, in all honesty, that I came back here because of the organization and what I think of this building." Ulbrich previously coached with the Falcons from 2015 to 2020. He initially served as the team's linebackers coach before receiving a promotion to assistant head coach for the 2020 campaign. Eventually, he served as the team's interim defensive coordinator after Raheem Morris was elevated to replace Dan Quinn. Morris and Ulbrich decided to team up again after the Falcons fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake following the 2024 season. Ulbrich spent the previous four seasons with the New York Jets. He spent most of the 2024 campaign serving as the team's interim coach, leading the squad to a 3-9 record following the Week 5 dismissal of Robert Saleh. Ulbrich was excited to return to Atlanta, and was thrilled when the Falcons landed two first-round pass rushers – Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. – to supplement their defense. However, things quickly became complicated after Jax Ulbrich's prank call became the center of attention for the elder Ulbrich. "I mean, it was a roller coaster of emotions," Jeff Ulbrich said of draft weekend. "It was great joy and elation, and so rare in the draft that things fall to you in that way. … And then obviously we had some challenges from a football perspective and from a building perspective and, for me, from a personal perspective and for my family. But it's all the things that I'm convinced that make you stronger. I do. And I live by that and my family lives by that. And because of that, we'll be better off because of all this." OPINION: Jeff Ulbrich was punished for son's Shedeur Sanders prank. Now, let's root for Falcons DC. Ulbrich is also lighter in the wallet because of the incident. He was fined $100,000 for the prank call incident while the Falcons organization was slapped with a $250,000 penalty. Neither party appealed the fine, nor did Atlanta add any excess punishment for Ulbrich. Both of the Ulbrichs apologized for the incident, with Jeff giving a statement in a late-April news conference and Jax calling Sanders to apologize before posting a written statement to social media. The younger Ulbrich may not be out of the woods yet, as his father and family weigh whether to levy additional discipline against the Ole Miss student. "We're still working through that, but it was a challenge for our family," Ulbrich said. "But it's a challenge that everyone in our family's up for. And like I said, it's going to make my son better because of it. He will."
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Eagles' star CB reveals he received over 30 prank phone calls during the 2024 NFL draft
Eagles' star CB reveals he received over 30 prank phone calls during the 2024 NFL draft During the debut episode of The Exciting Mics podcast, Eagles star cornerback reveals he received over 30 prank phones during the 2024 NFL draft Cooper DeJean talks about getting over 30 different prank calls on draft night 😳 — Exciting Mics (@excitingmics) May 15, 2025 Colorado star quarterback and Big 12 Player of the Year Shedeur Sanders was still on the draft board entering Round 4 after six other quarterbacks were selected in a shocking development. The biggest storyline of the draft came when the NFL fined the Falcons $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich $100,000 over the leak of Sanders' phone number. Ulbrich's son, Jax, took the number from Ulbrich's iPad and used it to prank Sanders during the draft. Amid the fallout and calls for some consequence, the NFL began looking into the situation, specifically how Sanders' private number leaked, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Falcons said in a statement Sunday that 21-year-old Jax Ulbrich wrote down the number from his father's open iPad while visiting his parents' home "to later conduct a prank call." Most of the pundits defending Ulbrich focused on the fact that other players in 2025, and in past drafts, have been the victims of prank phone calls, and no repercussions were handed out. Cooper DeJean was one of those victims, and during the debut episode of 'The Exciting Mics', DeJean confirmed that he was pranked over 30 times while waiting for Philadelphia to select him in the second round of the 2024 draft. DeJean got the last laugh, becoming a finalist for the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award after he was among the highest-rated players in the slot, holding opponents to 50 receptions. He had five pass breakups, and quarterbacks had an 82.2 passer rating against him. DeJean logged 51 tackles (38 solo) as a rookie, including 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries across 16 regular-season games in 2024. DeJean's biggest and best moment came in Super Bowl LIX against the Chiefs, when he picked off Patrick Mahomes for a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown on his birthday.
