FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Throughout the last three seasons, the New York Jets had a top defense. Their unit was the only one in the NFL to place among the top five in total yards allowed each year. In fact, it ranked No. 1 overall between 2022-24.

New York also ranked tops in the league in defensive EPA, according to TruMedia, had the second-best defensive success rate and tied for ninth in points allowed since 2022.

Now, in 2025, the man who led those Jets defenses to success — Jeff Ulbrich — is the Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator.

Ulbrich was brought back to Atlanta to achieve a similar level of production. However, a repeat performance is the least of Ulbrich's concerns. At least when it comes to those numbers, alone.

"Well, see, I get very twisted up sometimes with statistics because I really believe when you chase stats, you're not chasing winning sometimes," Ulbrich told AtlantaFalcons.com. "I know that sounds funny, and it sounds weird, but there's some truth in it. I think, at the end of the day, you got to find a way to win every single game."

The Jets, despite their strong defense, did not find enough ways to do that. Their best record during Ulbrich's time with the team was 7-10.

That's why Ulbrich was reluctant to answer when questioned about carrying over the Jets' defensive success with the Falcons. Interestingly enough, Ulbrich referenced an old press conference of Falcons head coach Raheem Morris to further explain the reluctance.

When Morris was hired as the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator in 2021, he entered a different yet similar situation. The Rams had the No. 1 defense in 2020. So, instead of fielding questions about implementing his own plan for success, Morris was asked about maintaining what was in place. His answer began with the strengths of the prior season's defense but then turned to his goals for the upcoming season, which is what Ulbrich referenced.

"Ultimately, nobody's really going to be happy with being the No. 1 defense," Morris said. "We are here to win a championship. I wasn't brought here to try to duplicate what they did last year. We were brought here to win, and we were brought here to win a championship."

The Rams lost in the divisional round in 2020, when they had the top defense. They won the Super Bowl in 2021, with a 17th-ranked defense.

Morris' point was made. Priorities were correct.

"I think there's so much power in that," Ulbrich said. "I thought it was such a poignant statement because we do live in a day and age where everybody knows the stats and the analytics and all the stuff with numbers. But we can't lose focus that winning is the No. 1 thing we have to accomplish here."