NFL head coach reveals cruel reason he missed funeral of Falcons defensive coordinator and close friend Jeff Ulbrich’s wife
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was unable to attend the funeral service of a colleague’s late wife due to a mechanical issue with his flight.
LaFleur was set to attend the funeral service of Cristina Ulbrich, who was married to Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich before her passing last month following a battle with cancer.
The Packers coach and his wife, BreAnne, were set to fly privately to the memorial service from the Packers’ training camp location in Wisconsin.
However, as the plane was getting set to take off, a mechanical issue was discovered and the aircraft could not take flight.
While BreAnne was able to travel separately to the funeral and made it on time, Matt says he was pulled back into preseason preparations.
‘All the sudden, I’m back in meetings,’ he told The Athletic. ‘I’m like, “It’s out of my control.”‘
Packers coach Matt LaFleur says a mechanical issue prevented him from attending a funeral
The services were for Cristina Ulbrich, the wife of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich
Cristina and Jeff met in 1997 and were married until she passed from cancer late last month
The LaFleur and Ulbrich families had grown close after the two met in Atlanta – with Ulbrich as the Falcons’ linebackers coach and LaFleur the team’s quarterbacks coach in 2016.
‘It’s different … when it’s somebody your age,’ Matt said about Cristina’s death. ‘She was a rock star. I think about it every day. I worry about ‘Brich.’
LaFleur added, ‘It puts all of this stuff a little bit more in perspective… you can’t take it for granted, that’s for sure.
Cristina’s death was announced in a social media post by the Falcons on July 30.
‘Cristina was a devoted wife, mother, and friend whose strength, grace, and resilience touched all who knew her,’ the statement read.
‘She was a constant source of love and support to Jeff, their family, and the broader Falcons community.’
The team continued, ‘On behalf of the entire organization, we extend our deepest condolences to Jeff, their children, and all who loved Cristina.’
Jeff and Cristina met in 1997. They share three children: sons Jax and Jace, as well as their daughter, Samantha.
Cristina was at Jeff’s side as he established himself as a linebacker and assistant coach
Ulbrich kisses his wife Cristina before his Jets played the Bills in October of 2024
Cristina was at Jeff’s side for years as he established himself as a solid NFL linebacker and, later, an assistant coach. In fact, when he first tried to break into coaching, Cristina vowed not to plan anything that could potentially conflict with his next job.
‘We’re not taking any vacations or going anywhere until he has something down,’ Cristina, then 32, told the Morgan Hill Times in 2010. ‘We know Jeff’s coaching can take us anywhere, just like with playing. I’m on board and so are the kids.’
Jeff’s transition from the field to the sideline also gave Cristina some peace of mind.
‘It’s knowing we don’t have to worry about his health anymore,’ Cristina said of her husband, who had battled concussions during his playing career.
The couple’s patience paid off in 2024, when Jeff was promoted to interim head coach of the New York Jets following Robert Saleh’s firing. A week later, a proud Cristina was pictured kissing her husband on the sideline as he prepared for his first game in charge of the team.
The following year, he agreed to become the Falcons defensive coordinator and the couple was on the move for the fifth time since his Jeff’s playing career ended in 2009.
