Ulrich was born in Jennings, Oklahoma, in 1920 but moved to southwest Kansas as a child.

[2][3] He was selected by the Cleveland Rams in the ninth round (72nd overall pick) of the 1942 NFL draft.

[3] After the war, he played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the Miami Seahawks in 1946.

He appeared in a total of 14 professional games, six of them as a starter, and caught four passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.

He joined the Kansas motor vehicle department in 1969 and held various executive positions there until the time of his death.