Cristina Ulbrich, the wife of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, has died following a battle with cancer. She was 48.
The Falcons announced the heartbreaking news on Friday, July 31, saying Cristina died one day earlier.
“Cristina was a devoted wife, mother and friend whose strength, grace and resilience touched all who knew her,” the team said in a statement. “She was a constant source of love and support to Jeff, their family and the broader Falcons community.”
Falcons owner Arthur Blank also paid tribute to Cristina, who shared three children with her husband: daughter Samantha and sons Jax and Jace.
“Cristina will always be an important part of our Falcons family. My heart is with Jeff, Samantha, Jax, Jace and the entire Ulbrich family during this unimaginable time,” Blank said.
He remembered Cristina as a devoted mother and wife who fiercely supported the people she loved while facing her illness with remarkable courage.
“It was always evident how deeply Cristina loved her family and how fiercely she supported them,” Blank continued. “She faced every challenge with extraordinary courage, strength and grace, inspiring so many through the way she lived and the way she fought.”
Blank said his family and the entire Falcons organization were sending their love and prayers to everyone grieving Cristina’s death.
“The greatest legacy Cristina leaves behind is the family she loved so completely, and her strength and spirit will continue to shine through them,” he added.
Jeff had been absent from the opening of the Falcons’ training camp in Flowery Branch, Georgia, this week. He joined Atlanta before the 2025 season after spending four years with the New York Jets.
Jeff and Cristina’s relationship began nearly three decades ago. According to The Athletic, they met in 1997 while Jeff was on a recruiting trip to the University of Hawaii.
Two years later, Cristina was regularly seen on the sidelines cheering him on as he made school history. Playing linebacker, Jeff recorded 169 tackles to set Hawaii’s single-season record before helping lead the team to a Western Athletic Conference championship.
Cristina remained by his side throughout his playing and coaching career, becoming a cherished member of the Falcons community and the heart of the family they built together.