The Falcons are reportedly dipping into the college ranks for a couple of additions to Dan Quinn’s first coaching staff.
Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reports that the team has hired Jeff Ulbrich as their linebackers coach and Matt LaFleur as their quarterbacks coach. Both coaches have connections to the staff already in place.
Ulbrich played for the 49ers from 2000 to 2009 and then became an assistant special teams coach for the Seahawks in 2010, giving him an opportunity to work with Quinn for two years before he moved on to UCLA. Ulbrich was the defensive coordinator for the Bruins in 2014 and was a linebackers coach who helped groom Anthony Barr into a Vikings first-round pick before the promotion.
LaFleur spent the 2014 season at Notre Dame, but was on the Redskins staff as quarterbacks coach for four years before going to South Bend. Incoming Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was running the offense in Washington during those years, although that’s not LaFleur’s only connection to the Atlanta staff. His brother Mike is an offensive assistant on the staff as well.