Ulbrich redshirted in his lone season at San Jose State before transferring to Gavilan College. He earned first-team All-Conference and team MVP in lone season at Gavilan College in Gilroy, California. He was a two-year starter at Hawaii. He earned All-WAC first-team selection and team co-captain as a senior. He started all 12 games at middle linebacker. He led the conference with a school-record 169 tackles his senior year. Ulbrich set a school record with 127 assisted tackles, breaking the old mark of 97. He ranked third in the league with eight sacks for 67 yards. He had 15 tackles for loss. He was credited with eight quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He returned two interceptions for 38 yards and had one pass defensed. He played in seven games, starting three at strong side inside linebacker as a junior. He finished with 41 tackles, including a nine-yard sack. He caused and recovered a fumble.
Ulbrich was drafted out of the University of Hawaii by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He only saw action in four games during his rookie season due to a right shoulder injury. He won the starting job in 2001. In 2005, he started only five games at inside linebacker before missing the remainder of the season with a torn biceps muscle. He started in 9 out of 16 games in 2006. Ulbrich took a backup role to first round pick Patrick Willis, and also a role on special teams. He was placed on injured reserve on October 19, 2009 after he suffered a concussion. Ulbrich announced his plans to retire as a result of the concussion on December 9, and he has said that he would like to become a college football coach one day.
Coaching career
Seattle Seahawks
On January 29, 2010, Ulbrich was hired by the Seattle Seahawks as a special teams assistant.
UCLA
In 2012, Ulbrich became the UCLA Bruins linebackers and special teams coach and helped lead the Bruins to the Pac-12 South Division Championship in his first year. One of his players, Anthony Barr led the nation in sacks with 13.5.
Atlanta Falcons
In 2015, Ulbrich was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as a linebackers coach. In the 2016 season, Ulbrich and the Falcons reached Super Bowl LI, where they faced the New England Patriots. In the Super Bowl, the Falcons fell in a 34–28 overtime defeat.
