In Jeff Ulbrich's first season as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator, their defense took a considerable step forward from the ill-fated Jimmy Lake season. After being near the bottom of the NFL in every defensive statistic in 2024, the Falcons improved, finishing closer to league average.
However, the biggest improvement Ulbrich's defense faced was in the sack department. Their 31 sacks were the second-lowest total in the NFL in 2024, but in 2025, the Falcons recorded a franchise-record 58 sacks were the second-most in the league--and the most in a season in franchise history.
Between James Pearce Jr. breaking the 10-sack streak and Jalon Walker's impact, the Falcons finally had a pass-rush for the first time since the hayday of John Abraham. And with Brandon Dorlus and Zach Harrison on the interior, the future was looking bright--with was being the operative word here.
The defensive nucleus this team had a season ago is no longer there, and unfortunately for Ulbrich, a step backward is coming.
The Atlanta Falcons' defense is due to take a step back in 2026
Walker tore his ACL during training camp, so Atlanta will be without him all season, and Pearce's arrest saw the NFL slap him with an eight-game suspension. So two of the most important players for this young defense will be on the shelf. That in itself is a recipe for regression for Ulbrich and company.
Without the two 2025 first-rounders, the pass-rush currently consists of Samson Ebukam, Za'Darius Smith, Jared Ivey, and Cameron Thomas--and that group won't get home with Ulbrich rushing four as much as last year. They're almost certainly going to have to utilize Dorlus and Harold Perkins Jr. off the edge to produce, and even that may not be enough to keep the sack numbers afloat.
Revamping the defensive line has been a particular point of contention for this new regime, especially on the interior. The Dirty Birds lost Harrison (who was just waived), Ruke Orhorhoro, and David Onyemata, and replaced the departed trio with Maason Smith, Da'Shawn Hand, and Gervon Dexter Sr.
That should help against the run, but the pass-rush is being held together by duct tape and glue at this point. Smith is 33 and spent most of last season in retirement, Ivey was just claimed off waivers, Ebukam has taken a major step back post-Achilles tear, and Thomas is merely just a rotational player.
And then you have the departure of Kaden Elliss to New Orleans, which is certainly going to hurt this Falcons' defense. Even former players like Arnold Ebiketie and Leonard Floyd would help the pass-rush--and they lost DB Dee Alford. There is just too much turnover across the board to sustain the numbers from last season.
If you include Pearce's suspension, the only two defensive linemen on the 2025 roster were Dorlus and La'Cale London. So we can kiss goodbye any chances of this team finishing near the top of the NFL in sacks again. On paper, they'd be lucky to be near league average given all of these losses.
If the Falcons' defense took another step forward, Jeff Ulbrich likely would've received head coaching consideration, but there are just too many external factors working against this group.
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