The Falcons may already be lining up their next defensive playcaller, even while Jeff Ulbrich is still on the job.
That’s the reality Atlanta is facing after Ulbrich’s rapid turnaround of the defense in 2025 made him a name worth watching in coaching circles. The Falcons pushed hard to keep the 49-year-old when Kevin Stefanski was hired, and the sense around the situation is clear: Atlanta will ride this as long as it can, but Ulbrich’s path to a head coaching job feels like a matter of when, not if.
Ulbrich was included in the NFL’s accelerator program this offseason for future head coaches, and Stefanski believes he has earned that shot. So while the Falcons are enjoying the benefits now, they’re also thinking ahead.
That’s where Patrick Toney enters the picture.
Toney is the defensive pass game coordinator who could become the next man up if Ulbrich moves on. Defensive line coach Nate Ollie might seem like the obvious internal option, but there’s also a real possibility he leaves with Ulbrich as part of a package deal. If that happens, Toney becomes the name to keep in mind.
The 36-year-old arrived with a strong résumé of his own. Over the last three seasons, he coached defensive backs for the Arizona Cardinals and helped develop Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, and Max Melton into dependable starting corners. He also had a defensive coordinator job lined up at Ole Miss earlier this offseason and was set to reunite with Pete Golding and head back to college.
Then Mike Rutenberg left Atlanta, and the door opened.
Toney passed on that DC opportunity to join Ulbrich and the Falcons staff instead, giving him a chance to work with A.J. Terrell, Avieon Terrell, Jessie Bates, Xavier Watts, Sydney Brown, Billy Bowman Jr. and Mike Hughes. For a young assistant in his first season, that’s a pretty strong group to help shape.
Atlanta has already watched Toney climb quickly, and every step this secondary takes under him only strengthens his case for a bigger role later. If Ulbrich eventually leaves, Stefanski will have plenty to consider - and Toney’s year inside this system could make him an even more appealing choice.
The Falcons clearly like what they have in Patrick Toney. If he keeps building on it, his name is going to come up fast when it’s time to replace Jeff Ulbrich.
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