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The Unsung Hero: 5 Reasons Why The Atlanta Falcons' 'Get-Back Coach' Is Crucial For The 2025 Season

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As of December 2025, the Atlanta Falcons' coaching staff under Head Coach Raheem Morris has been finalized, featuring a mix of new energy and veteran leadership designed to push the team toward playoff contention. While the official titles of Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson and Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich dominate the headlines, a lesser-known, yet critically important role is the "Get-Back Coach"—an unofficial position focused entirely on sideline discipline and preventing costly penalties that can derail an entire season. This article dives deep into this unique function, exploring its necessity in the modern NFL and identifying which members of the Falcons' staff are likely shouldering this vital, unsung responsibility. The term "Get-Back Coach" has become an intriguing piece of NFL vernacular, referring to the staff member—often an assistant or quality control coach—whose primary job is to physically restrain overly excited or frustrated coordinators and position coaches from stepping onto the field of play. In a league where every yard matters and a single five-yard penalty for "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" or "Illegal Sideline" can flip field position, the importance of this role for the 2025 Atlanta Falcons cannot be overstated, especially as the team navigates a high-pressure season with new offensive and defensive schemes.

The Core 2025 Atlanta Falcons Coaching Staff: A Biographical Snapshot

The Falcons' success in the 2025 campaign hinges on the chemistry and discipline of its top three coaches. Here is a look at the key figures who will be leading the charge from the sidelines.

Raheem Morris: Head Coach

  • Born: September 3, 1976 (Newark, New Jersey)
  • College: Hofstra University (Played Safety)
  • Falcons Tenure: Named the 19th head coach in Atlanta Falcons history on January 25, 2024.
  • Coaching History: Morris has an extensive and varied NFL career, including a previous stint as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach (2009–2011). He also served as an assistant head coach, wide receivers coach, and defensive passing game coordinator during a prior tenure with the Falcons. His career is marked by a defensive background, though he has experience on both sides of the ball and is known for his enthusiastic, high-energy coaching style.

Zac Robinson: Offensive Coordinator

  • Born: September 29, 1986 (Little Rock, Arkansas)
  • College: Oklahoma State University (Played Quarterback)
  • Falcons Tenure: Named Offensive Coordinator on January 29, 2024.
  • Coaching History: Robinson’s coaching ascent is rapid, having previously served as the Los Angeles Rams' pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Sean McVay. His scheme is expected to bring a modern, aggressive, and highly efficient passing attack to the Falcons, focusing on utilizing the team's potent skill players like Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts.

Jeff Ulbrich: Defensive Coordinator

  • Born: February 17, 1977 (San Jose, California)
  • College: University of Hawaii (Played Linebacker)
  • Falcons Tenure: Named Defensive Coordinator on January 18, 2025.
  • Coaching History: Ulbrich has a strong history as a former NFL linebacker, playing ten seasons for the San Francisco 49ers. His coaching career includes a previous stint in Atlanta (2015-2020) where he served as linebackers coach and interim defensive coordinator. Prior to his 2025 return, he spent four seasons as the Defensive Coordinator for the New York Jets, building a reputation for aggressive, hard-hitting defenses.

What is a 'Get-Back Coach' and Why Does the NFL Need One?

The "Get-Back Coach" is not an official title listed on the team's website, but it is a widely recognized and essential role in the National Football League. This position gained notoriety through features by *NFL Films* and is often discussed on social media for its unique, high-stakes function. The primary duty of the "Get-Back Coach" is to patrol the designated coaching area, ensuring that no coach—especially the highly animated coordinators and position coaches—strays past the white stripe and onto the field of play. This seemingly simple task is critical because violating the restricted area results in an "Illegal Sideline" penalty, typically a five or fifteen-yard flag depending on the severity and frequency of the infraction. The need for this role stems from the intense emotional investment of NFL coaches. In the heat of a critical play, a coordinator like Jeff Ulbrich, known for his intensity, might instinctively take a step or two onto the field to yell instructions or celebrate a turnover. This momentary lapse in judgment can lead to a devastating penalty that costs the team a first down, a scoring opportunity, or even a game. The "Get-Back Coach" acts as a human barrier, often physically tapping or pulling the coach back to the legal area, thus saving the team from a costly mistake.

Who is the De Facto Falcons 'Get-Back Coach' for Raheem Morris's Staff?

Given the high-octane personalities of the Falcons' top staff—Head Coach Raheem Morris, the youthful and energetic Zac Robinson, and the fiery Jeff Ulbrich—the need for a strong "Get-Back Coach" is paramount for the 2025 season. While the official designation is never public, the role is typically assigned to a Quality Control (QC) or low-ranking position coach who is focused solely on the sideline environment rather than in-game strategy. The most likely candidates for this crucial, unofficial role on the Atlanta Falcons staff include:

1. Quality Control Coaches (The Most Common Choice)

The Falcons' Quality Control coaches, such as an Offensive or Defensive Quality Control assistant, are the most probable candidates. These coaches are responsible for administrative tasks, film breakdown, and generally assisting the coordinators. Their limited in-game strategic duties free them up to focus on the sideline. They are physically close to the coordinators and have the direct responsibility of ensuring procedural correctness, which includes sideline discipline.

2. Jerry Gray: Assistant Head Coach/Defense

Jerry Gray, who serves as the Assistant Head Coach/Defense, holds a position of authority that allows him to police the sideline effectively. While he has significant strategic input, his veteran presence and respected status on the defensive side make him the ideal figure to manage the passionate reactions of Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. His role is less about physical restraint and more about maintaining a professional, disciplined sideline demeanor.

3. Tim Berbenich: Assistant Offensive Line Coach

Position coaches often take on this duty, and Tim Berbenich, the Assistant Offensive Line Coach, is a possibility. These coaches are often positioned near the Offensive Coordinator, Zac Robinson, during drives. Given Robinson's high-pressure role in calling plays, a dedicated assistant ensuring his focus remains on the play sheet—and off the field—is a critical piece of the puzzle.

5 Reasons Why the 'Get-Back Coach' is the Falcons' Most Crucial Unsung Hire

The success of the 2025 Atlanta Falcons season is not just about the players on the field or the plays called; it is also about the discipline of the coaching staff. Here are five reasons why the "Get-Back Coach" is an essential, if uncredited, member of the organization:
  1. Preventing Costly Sideline Penalties: A single five-yard illegal sideline penalty can turn a 3rd-and-5 into a 3rd-and-10, killing a drive and potentially leading to a punt. Over a 17-game season, avoiding just a handful of these procedural mistakes can be the difference between a playoff berth and missing out.
  2. Maintaining Focus Under Pressure: The "Get-Back Coach" allows Zac Robinson and Jeff Ulbrich to immerse themselves fully in play-calling and adjustments without the mental distraction of constantly monitoring their own feet. This clarity of focus is invaluable in the high-stakes environment of the NFL.
  3. Setting a Standard of Professionalism: A disciplined sideline reflects a disciplined team. Head Coach Raheem Morris, as the leader, demands a high standard of control. The presence of a "Get-Back Coach" reinforces the organizational culture that every detail, no matter how small, is managed professionally.
  4. Protecting the Coordinators' Reputations: Coordinators are often under intense scrutiny. Being flagged for a sideline penalty is an embarrassing and unnecessary error that detracts from their strategic performance. The "Get-Back Coach" protects them from these avoidable public mistakes.
  5. Enhancing Game Flow and Momentum: Penalties often halt momentum. By ensuring the sideline is clean, the Falcons can maintain the flow of the game, keeping the emotional edge and preventing the opposition from getting a free break due to a coaching error. This discipline is particularly important in close NFC South matchups.
In the high-stakes world of the 2025 NFL season, where the difference between winning and losing is razor-thin, the Atlanta Falcons are relying on every member of their organization. The "Get-Back Coach" may never appear on a stat sheet or in a highlight reel, but their quiet, diligent work in controlling the chaos of the sideline is an indispensable part of the team's quest for a successful campaign. This unsung hero is the ultimate enforcer of discipline, making them perhaps the most crucial assistant coach you've never heard of.
The Unsung Hero: 5 Reasons Why the Atlanta Falcons' 'Get-Back Coach' is Crucial for the 2025 Season
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