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Jeff Ulbrich

NFC South Notes: Falcons, Clowney, Renfrow

April 30th, 2025 at 12:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL will attempt to put the Shedeur Sanders prank-call storyline in the past, levying fines against the Falcons and new DC Jeff Ulbrich. The veteran coordinator’s son, Jax, made a prank call to Sanders as he fell during the draft. Jax Ulbrich, who pretended to be Saints GM Mickey Loomis when calling the Colorado QB during his draft freefall, apologized to Sanders (after taking the QB’s number off his father’s iPad), but Jeff Ulbrich will lose a chunk of his salary as a result of the act. The league fined Jeff Ulbrich $100K, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who adds the Falcons will be fined $250K for Sanders’ number being leaked. Jeff Ulbrich said (via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall) he and his son take “full responsibility” for the prank. The veteran assistant said he also apologized to Deion Sanders.

Unlike the Falcons’ Kirk Cousins tampering penalty last year, no draft picks will be taken away for the incident involving the Ulbrichs. The Falcons hired Ulbrich to replace Jimmy Lake, whom Raheem Morris fired after one season on the job. This has certainly not been a smooth ride for Falcons DCs. Ulbrich is the team’s fourth in four years (Ulbrich, Lake, Ryan Nielsen, Dean Pees), and the former Jets interim HC’s tenure is not off to a good start thanks to this development. The Falcons have now been fined $575K over the past three years (h/t Yahoo’s Nate Tice), thanks to this coming after the 2024 tampering issue and 2023 Bijan Robinson injury report matter.

Here is the latest from the NFC South:

  • Jadeveon Clowney has become available in trades, and the Panthers had thrown his name around before drafting two edge rushers (Nic Scourton, Princely Umanmielen on Day 2. Carolina’s pre-draft discussions on Clowney with multiple teams, per ESPN.com’s David Newton. As Ejiro Evero will begin molding the two rookie edge players, Clowney could be on the move yet again. The Panthers would save $9.78MM by trading Clowney, who is on his sixth NFL team.
  • The Panthers are pulling Hunter Renfrow back into the NFL, after the former 1,000-yard Raiders wide receiver did not play in 2024. Renfrow, 29, took last year off in part because he was battling an autoimmune disorder (ulcerative colitis) that caused fatigue and weight loss, according to Panthers.com’s Darin Gantt. The Clemson alum said the weight loss caused him to drop to around 150 pounds. Renfrow viewed himself as ready to make a comeback by January, and he is now back to 187 pounds. The Panthers’ receiving setup will not guarantee Renfrow a roster spot, as he fell out of favor with the Raiders following his 1,038-yard 2021 season. But the South Carolina native will have a shot to make an impact in his native region.
  • One of Ulbrich’s new pieces to arrive in the draft, fourth-round pick Billy Bowman, enters the league as a safety. But that will not be his primary role in Atlanta. The Falcons will shift Bowman into the slot to start his career, Ulbrich said (via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter). The Falcons took Bowman with the No. 118 overall pick. He will head to Georgia after earning first-team All-Big 12 (2023) and third-team All-SEC (2024) acclaim. The Falcons addressed their safety position in the third round (Xavier Watts) and in free agency, bringing in Jordan Fuller as another option to start alongside Jessie Bates. Justin Simmons remains a free agent.
  • The Saints added some edge-rushing depth this week, agreeing to bring in veteran Chris Rumph. This came shortly after New Orleans agreed to terms with 11 UDFAs.

2025 NFL Draft Rumors: Saints, Packers, Falcons, Revel

March 27th, 2025 at 10:13pm CST by Ely Allen

The Saints continue to stay busy having visits with 2025 NFL Draft prospects, according to multiple reports from Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Last night, the team hosted several Georgia players for dinner, including a top defensive end prospect in Mykel Williams as well as wide receiver Arian Smith. They also reportedly had dinner this week with Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew, a likely Day 3 prospect whose name has not been making the rounds this early in the process. Lastly, the team was in Knoxville today reportedly meeting with some Tennessee players, including running back Dylan Sampson and defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott.

Underhill adds that the team has been doing a ton of work during the pre-draft process on running backs. Even though lead back Alvin Kamara had a career-high 950 rushing yards in 2024, combined with 543 receiving yards, the sheer depth of this year’s class of running back prospects nearly ensures that quality backs will be available into the fourth or fifth round. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has eight running backs listed in his top 100 prospects list, so it makes sense that New Orleans is doing its homework on the position.

Here are a few other rumors concerning possibilities in the 2025 NFL Draft:

  • The Packers currently have eight picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, but if general manager Brian Gutekunst has anything to say about it, they could be angling for more. According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, when asked about not having many picks this year, Gutekunst added the addendum “yet” to the end of the statement, indicating that he would have some interest in acquiring more picks via trade. Green Bay currently sits at No. 23 overall in the first round. It’s been posited that many teams from pick No. 20 on are looking to trade back out of the first round due to a lack of elite, top-end talent in this year’s class, as opposed to the tremendous depth the class seems to provide. Unfortunately, due to that same issue, there are going to be few, if any, takers willing to give up precious draft capital to move up into the first round.
  • One trend we seem to be seeing shows the Falcons as likely candidates to go defense in the first round of the draft. Josh Kendall of The Athletic selected safety Nick Emmanwori in the site’s beat writer mock draft, and the other players he says he considered with the pick, safety Malaki Starks, linebackers Jalon Walker and Jihaad Campbell, cornerback Will Johnson, and edges Mike Green and Shemar Stewart, all reside on the defensive side of the ball. Kendall bases this belief that the team will go defense off of new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich wanting to build a new, uniquely hybrid defense.
  • Lastly, Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network reported today that the Cowboys will be hosting East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel for a top-30 visit next week. We know that Revel is attempting to make a comeback from a torn ACL that ended his final collegiate season after only three games and that he is projected to be back in time for training camp. What makes this an interesting visit is that, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS, Revel’s ACL repair surgery was performed by Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper, likely giving the franchise a uniquely exclusive insight on his prognosis and recovery.

2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

January 26th, 2025 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. As most HC-needy teams have now filled their open positions, the coordinator carousel has accelerated. Here is how the market looks now. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-21-25 (1:59pm CT)

Offensive coordinators

Chicago Bears (Out: Chris Beatty)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Ken Dorsey)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Brian Schottenheimer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Ben Johnson)

  • John Morton, pass-game coordinator (Broncos): Hired

Houston Texans (Out: Bobby Slowik)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Press Taylor)

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Klint Kubiak)

New York Jets (Out: Nathaniel Hackett)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Promoted

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Ryan Grubb)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Liam Coen)

Defensive coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)

Chicago Bears (Out: Eric Washington)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Mike Zimmer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Aaron Glenn)

  • Larry Foote, inside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Kelvin Sheppard, linebackers coach (Lions): Promoted

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

  • Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach/running game coordinator (Packers): Hired
  • Jonathan Cooley, pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
  • Patrick Graham, former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
  • Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/27
  • Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/28

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: DeMarcus Covington)

  • Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/21
  • Terrell Williams, defensive line coach (Lions): Hired

New Orleans Saints (Out: Joe Woods)

New York Jets (Out: Jeff Ulbrich)

  • Chris Harris, former defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/29
  • Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): To be hired

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)

NFL Staff Rumors: Allen, Sanders, Williams, Panthers, Saints

January 19th, 2025 at 8:21pm CST by Ely Allen

Former Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich was hired to rejoin his old coworker, Raheem Morris, in Atlanta as defensive coordinator. This threw a wrench in some other plans in coaching searches around the league. Specifically, two teams that viewed him as a defensive coordinator candidate will have to look elsewhere to fill the position.

After Ulbrich filled in for a fired Robert Saleh in New York, he was likewise being viewed as a backup candidate for defensive coordinator behind Saleh in San Francisco. The 49ers are hoping to hire Saleh back to his old job as their defensive play-caller. Saleh is still interviewing for some open head coaching positions, though, and in case he becomes unavailable, Ulbrich was seemingly the second option.

The second team watching Ulbrich was whatever team ends up hiring former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Johnson had Ulbrich tabbed as the potential defensive coordinator on his first staff as an NFL head coach. Rapoport claims former Saints head coach Dennis Allen is the new name to look out for to join Johnson’s first staff.

Here are a few other rumors in staff conversations around the NFL:

  • As more and more hurdles continue to present themselves in the Cowboys‘ pursuit of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, it’s beginning to seem like him becoming their next head coach is an unlikely scenario. According to another Rapoport report, the NFL Network reporter claimed he “would be surprised — probably very surprised — if (a formal interview) did, in fact, get scheduled.”
  • New Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel hasn’t spoken much of how much of the existing staff in New England will be salvaged, but the understanding seems to be that, like in most new head coaching situations, Vrabel will likely be replacing both coordinators. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, one name to watch for defensive coordinator is Lions defensive line coach and run-game coordinator Terrell Williams. Williams was one of Vrabel’s most-trusted assistants during his time as head coach in Tennessee, where Williams served as assistant head coach in addition to his duties as defensive line coach. Especially with the likely turnover expected on the defensive staff in Detroit, it makes perfect sense that Williams would explore the opportunity to take his first coordinator position.
  • The Panthers are reportedly moving on from passing game coordinator Nate Carroll, son of former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Joe Person of The Athletic confirmed the report, adding that the team does not expect Carroll back in any capacity.
  • Switching for moment from coaching staffs to the front office, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis addressed the consistency of staff in the team’s personnel department. Amidst questions concerning job security, Loomis claimed that “he loves (vice president/assistant general manager — college personnel) Jeff Ireland and (director of pro personnel) Michael Parenton in their” current roles, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. While he does expect changes and tweaks in their processes and procedures, Irelend and Parenton’s jobs appear secure.

Falcons Hire Jeff Ulbrich As DC

January 18th, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Atlanta has spent this week looking into several candidates for the vacant defensive coordinator position. With the interview process complete, a decision has quickly been made.

Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich is set to receive the Falcons’ DC position, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. An announcement from the team has since confirmed the news. This will represent a return to Atlanta while also confirming that he will not be tapped for New York’s full-time head coaching gig.

Ulbrich started his pro coaching career in Seattle before a three-year stint at UCLA. That time on the West Coast was followed by a role on the Falcons’ staff beginning in 2015. He served as the team’s linebackers coach for five years, eventually having assistant head coach added to his title. Midway through the 2020 campaign, Ulbrich was promoted to interim defensive coordinator.

Of course, that development came when Raheem Morris – who worked alongside Ulbrich in that same 2015-20 stretch – took over from Dan Quinn as interim head coach. Morris returned to the Falcons this past offseason to lead the team, and his familiarity with Ulbrich made the latter a strong contender for this hire. Now, Ulbrich will handle coordinator duties for the fifth full season in 2025 after guiding the Jets’ defense since 2021.

The 47-year-old drew praise for his work in that capacity during much of his time in New York. The Jets finished last in the NFL in yards allowed in Ulbrich’s first season at the helm, but since then the team has finished no worse than fourth in that department. With respect to points surrendered, New York was generally unable to match that success, including during Ulbrich’s time as interim head coach.

The Jets fired Robert Saleh after Week 5 in an attempt to spark a midseason turnaround. That did not prove to be the case, with the team’s offense in many instances failing to live up to expectations. The was often true on the other side of the ball despite the fact Ulbrich continued calling defensive plays after his promotion to interim HC. Still, after finishing the season 2-9, he interviewed for the full-time position before doing the same this week for the Falcons’ DC gig.

New York has cast a wide net in search of a new coach, but another candidate can now be crossed off the list of contenders on that front. Ulbrich will turn his attention to helping the Falcons improve on defense moving forward. The team ranked 23rd in points and yards allowed this past season, the first with Jimmy Lake as defensive coordinator. Lake was fired after the campaign ended, and starting in 2025 plenty of room for improvement exists against both the run and pass in Atlanta’s case. Once again, the team struggled in the pass-rush department this in 2024, ranking 31st in the NFL with 31.

Part of a busy offseason for the Falcons last year included the trade for edge rusher Matt Judon and the signing of safety Justin Simmons. Both are pending free agents, so finding replacements at each of those positions could be a priority on defense for Ulbrich and Co. in the near future. In any case, he will look to guide a rebound on that side of the ball in Atlanta and in doing so help the team move past a disappointing end to the 2024 campaign and boost his future head coaching stock in the process.

Here is the final breakdown of how the Falcons’ search played out:

  • Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Cincinnati Bengals): Interviewed 1/15
  • Derrick Ansley, pass-game coordinator (Atlanta Falcons): Interviewed 1/16
  • Grady Brown, secondary coach (Pittsburgh Steelers): Interviewed 1/17
  • Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Chicago Bears): Interviewed 1/18
  • Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed 1/14
  • Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (New York Jets): Hired
  • Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (San Francisco 49ers): Interviewed 1/17

2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

January 15th, 2025 at 11:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy splitting up, seven teams have made coaching changes so far during this year’s cycle. Here are the candidates connected to each of the HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-11-25 (11:40am CT)

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Falcons Interview Jeff Ulbrich For DC Gig

January 15th, 2025 at 6:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Falcons recently moved on from defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake after one season with the team. Atlanta’s search for his replacement continues to expand.

Atlanta interviewed Jeff Ulbrich for the DC position on Wednesday, per a team announcement. The Jets’ interim head coach interviewed for the team’s full-time gig earlier this week, but he has not garnered attention this year for any of the other vacancies. Ulbrich’s experience at the coordinator level makes him an interesting candidate for this year’s hiring cycle, though.

The 47-year-old’s coaching tenure began in 2010, and after three seasons at UCLA he returned to the pro level. Ulbrich joined the Falcons’ staff in 2015 as their linebackers coach, continuing in that role for five years. In 2020, he had assistant head coach added to his title and also closed out the campaign as interim defensive coordinator. That was the year in which then-DC Raheem Morris was promoted to interim head coach following Dan Quinn‘s dismissal.

As a result, another Falcons opportunity would represent not only a reunion for Ulbrich but a chance to once again work under Morris. The latter’s first season as Atlanta’s head coach did not go according to plan, in no small part due to a stretch of underwhelming quarterback play from veteran QB Kirk Cousins. While Atlanta has a succession plan in the form of Michael Penix Jr., improvement on defense will be a goal for 2025. The Falcons ranked 23rd in points and yards allowed, a key factor in the team’s inability to reach the postseason. Ulbrich has overseen the Jets’ defense since 2021, a unit which posted mix results over that span (including poor outings once he took over from Robert Saleh midway through the past season).

Atlanta has an interview lined up with former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo, and yesterday the team met with ex-Ravens and Giants D-coordinator Don Martindale. Both staffers are on the Colts’ radar, but that is not the case (for now, at least) with respect to Steve Wilks. The veteran coach is also on Atlanta’s interview list, one which has another experienced name on it in the form of Ulbrich.

49ers Interview Robert Saleh, Deshea Townsend For DC Job

January 9th, 2025 at 3:51pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The 49ers completed interviews with Robert Saleh and Deshea Townsend for their vacant defensive coordinator position, per a team announcement and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

Saleh was fired as the Jets head coach in October and previously served as the 49ers defensive coordinator for four seasons. He arrived in 2017 with Kyle Shanahan and inherited a defense that ranked 32nd in yards allowed. Saleh turned the 49ers defense into a top-10 unit by the time he left for New York after the 2020 season. His tenure with the Jets was plagued by poor quarterback play and interference from ownership, though Saleh maintained his standard of defensive excellence until his firing.

The 45-year-old is considered the favorite to land the 49ers’ DC job, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, in no small part due to his familiarity with the team’s roster and scheme. Saleh is also planning to interview with the Jaguars for their head coaching position, so he may hold off on accepting the job in San Francisco before the Jaguars have made their decision.

Jeff Ulbrich, who was Saleh’s defensive coordinator in New York and finished this season as interim head coach, could also be a candidate for the DC job in San Francisco if he is not retained by the Jets, Fowler adds. Ulbrich spent his entire 10-year playing career with the 49ers and was recruited by his former team last offseason, though the Jets prevented him from interviewing. The defense led by Saleh and Ulbrich in New York was based on Saleh’s system in San Francisco, so Ulbrich should still have plenty of schematic familiarity.

Townsend is a former 13-year NFL cornerback who has been a defensive backs coach for seven NFL teams, as well as Mississippi State University. He is currently the Lions’ passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach and has played a crucial role in keeping their defense afloat despite a myriad of injuries. Townsend could also be a candidate for the Lions’ DC job if Aaron Glenn takes a head coaching job elsewhere.

Nick Sorensen Won’t Return As 49ers Defensive Coordinator

January 7th, 2025 at 8:47pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four years. Nick Sorensen won’t return as the 49ers defensive coordinator in 2025, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

However, Sorensen’s stint in San Francisco may not be over. Maiocco adds that the 49ers are hoping they can keep the coach on Kyle Shanahan’s staff for next season. One option could be special teams coordinator, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes. The 49ers fired ST coordinator Brian Schneider the other day, and Sorensen served in that role during his time with the Jaguars.

After ranking third in points allowed in 2023, the 49ers dropped to 29th during Sorenson’s first season at the helm. The defense also struggled to generate turnovers, with Cam Inman of the Mercury News noting that the team had zero interceptions over their final seven games and only one fumble recovery over their final 11 games.

There was hope that Sorenson would help guide the 49ers to a new level after the team fired Steve Wilks last offseason. The former NFL journeyman moved quickly through the coaching ranks in San Francisco, where he worked his way up from a defensive assistant to defensive pass game specialist to defensive coordinator in three seasons. In addition to his one-year stint as Jaguars ST coordinator, Sorenson also had experience coaching defense with the Seahawks, where he served as the team’s secondary coach during the final seasons of the Legion of Boom era.

While the 49ers dealt with a long list of injuries, the team clearly wasn’t willing to tolerate the clear regression from the defense in 2024. Now, the organization will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons. Prior to Wilks one-year stint as defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans spent two years in the role before becoming head coach of the Texans.

Ryans’ predecessor, Robert Saleh, could be a candidate to take over for Sorenson, as Inman notes. Saleh spent four years as San Francisco’s defensive coach before leaving to become the Jets head coach in 2021. He was canned by the Jets earlier this season before catching on as a consultant in Green Bay, and he’s already emerged as a candidate for the Jaguars head coaching vacancy. It’s more likely that Saleh’s return to coaching will require a stop as coordinator, and a familiar spot in San Francisco could be his softest-possible landing.

Inman also points to Jeff Ulbrich and Gus Bradley as potential candidates for the 49ers new DC opening. Ulbrich most recently served as Saleh’s interim replacement in New York, and that was preceded by a three-plus-year stint as the Jets DC. The veteran coach crossed paths with Shanahan in Atlanta, and he spent his entire 10-year playing career in San Francisco.

Bradley and Shanahan have never worked alongside each other, but the veteran coach brings plenty of experience. Bradley most recently served as the Colts defensive coordinator, a role he held for three seasons before getting dismissed yesterday. Bradley also held DC roles with the Raiders, Chargers, and Seahawks, and he had a four-year stint as head coach with the Jaguars.

Jets To Interview Jeff Ulbrich Next Week

January 3rd, 2025 at 6:20pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

As expected, Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich will get a shot at the full-time gig. He expects to interview with the team’s decision-makers next week, per Brian Costello of The New York Post.

Ulbrich was handed the interim job after Robert Saleh was fired due to the Jets’ 2-3 start, but the coaching change has been disastrous. Under Saleh, the Jets outscored their opponents 93-85. Since then, the team has gone 2-9 with a -86 point differential.

Most concerning is the drop-off in New York’s pass defense. With Saleh as head coach and Ulbrich as defensive coordinator, the Jets allowed just 136.6 passing yards and 17.0 points per game. Ulbrich wasn’t able to continue that success as head coach, surrendering 217.5 passing yards and 27.2 points per game without significant improvements on offense.

Such a long, unsuccessful stint as an interim is likely to doom Ulbrich’s prospects to be the Jets’ head coach next year, though he was well-regarded within the organization when he first took over. He will have to win over owner Woody Johnson, who was considering firing Ulbrich in 2023 but warmed to the former linebacker after multiple interview requests from the 49ers.

Johnson may still prefer a defensive-minded head coach. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn could fit that bill after fielding a top-10 scoring defense despite a myriad of injuries. Glenn is “considered a very early favorite” for the job in New York, per Albert Breer and Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated. Glenn spent eight years of his playing career with the Jets, who drafted him with the 12th overall pick in 1994. He made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 1997 and 1998 and only left New York because he was drafted by the Texans in the 2002 NFL expansion draft.

Glenn ultimately retired as a Texan, but got his first non-playing NFL job with the Jets as a personnel scout in 2012. He transitioned to coaching with the Browns in 2014 and the Saints in 2016 before he was hired to lead the Lions defense in 2021. The Lions were a bottom-five defense in Glenn’s first two seasons, but began to show improvement in 2023. Injuries have ravaged the unit this year, Glenn has managed to keep the unit afloat despite the devastating loss of Aidan Hutchinson, who was building a strong Defensive Player of the Year campaign before breaking his leg in October. Glenn’s pitch to the Jets will be simple: combine the Lions’ cultural and schematic success on both sides of the ball with a talented Jets roster.

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