Jets' Jeff Ulbrich tabbed as head coach for the Reese's Senior Bowl

New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will get a shot as a head coach coming up, at least for a week.

Ulbrich will lead the National Team in the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. The Reese’s Senior Bowl is the preeminent college all-star showcase. The game will feature numerous premier prospects, who will spend a full week under the tutelage of current NFL coaches.

Ulbrich’s staff is comprised of New York Giants' quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney (offensive coordinator), Minnesota Vikings' pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Daronte Jones (defensive coordinator) and New Orleans Saints' assistant special teams coach Phil Galiano (special teams coordinator).

"I’m extremely honored to be chosen as one of the head coaches for the Senior Bowl," said Ulbrich in the Senior Bowl's official press release. "This game has featured some of the greatest players in NFL history and remains as one of the highest honors that can be given to a college football player. It also has consistently given under-the-radar players from big and small school schools alike an opportunity to compete against the best. Compete in a venue with the guidance of NFL coaches and get unrivaled exposure to every NFL team."

Jets Get First-Hand Look at Top Prospects

This news couldn’t be any better for the New York Jets. More important than the actual game itself are the Senior Bowl practices all week. Coaches get a valuable first-hand look at how players prepare, how they practice and how coachable they are. It’s a head-start on what a player will look like when they get to the NFL.

The last time the Jets were involved in the Senior Bowl was 2022, when Robert Saleh tabbed his tight end’s coach Ron Middleton to coach the National team. That year the Jets had arguably one of the best drafts in recent memory.

The Jets selected Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall who didn’t take part in the Senior Bowl but every other player they selected that year not only played in the game but is a viable contributor to the team now. The Jets got a first-hand look at Jermaine Johnson, Jeremy Ruckert, Max Mitchell and Micheal Clemons.

With the Jets not having a second round pick this year because of the Aaron Rodgers trade, it will be important for them to make the best of their picks in rounds three to seven and having boots on the ground at the Senior Bowl is a great leg up on that goal.

Ulbrich Gets a Shot To Prove He’s a Head Coach

For Ulbrich, who aspires being a head coach some day in the NFL, he gets a chance to lead a team and show that he can excel as the top guy. He'll have the chance to lead a staff and prepare a team of pro prospects to play a game. Being named head coach for the Senior Bowl is a great honor and is used to not only show off top prospects, but to show off future head coaches in the league.

"I had a chance to observe Jeff down here at the Senior Bowl two years ago when the Jets staff coached in the game, and he brought tons of juice to his defensive players so I know he’ll bring great energy to the role," said Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy.

The 46-year-old Ulbrich has shown head coach qualities and could become a coveted candidate soon. The Jets view him as a head coaching candidate in the near future and would not be surprised if his name starts popping up with some of the jobs open even this season.

"I would love to see him get one [a head coaching job]," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh in December. "He was hired with the full thought that he could definitely be a head coach if given the opportunity to run with it."

The Reese's Senior Bowl is set for February 3 at 1:00 pm ET in Mobile, AL. NFL Network will carry the game live.