The Atlanta Falcons said Thursday that Cristina Ulbrich, the wife of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, has died after what the team described as a courageous battle with cancer.
In a statement, the organization called Cristina Ulbrich “a devoted wife, mother, and friend” and said her “strength, grace, and resilience touched all who knew her.” The Falcons added that she was “a constant source of love and support to Jeff, their family, and the broader Falcons community.”
The team also asked for privacy as the Ulbrich family grieves. “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.”
Falcons owner Arthur Blank also issued a statement, saying, “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.
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.”
Jeff Ulbrich returned to Atlanta this offseason as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator after previously working for the team in several roles from 2015-2020. He later spent several seasons with the New York Jets.
The Falcons said they had no additional information beyond their statements.
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