Jim Schwartz is apparently out. Dennis Thurman is in as defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills.
According to Kimberly Jones of NFL Media, Thurman will reunite with new Bills coach Rex Ryan and serve as the defensive coordinator in Buffalo.
Conversely, that means Schwartz - who helped the Bills become the league’s fourth-ranked defense in 2014 - will not be back with the team. His departure has been confirmed via multiple reports.
Thurman and Ryan have coached together all but one year since 2002. Thurman was a defensive assistant and defensive backs coach alongside Ryan on the Baltimore Ravens staff from 2002-07. Thurman was let go with most of the coaching staff in Baltimore following the 2007 season and joined the New York Jets as a defensive backs coach in 2008.
Ryan took the head coaching job in New York in 2009 and kept Thurman on staff in the same role. Thurman was then promoted to defensive coordinator with the Jets in 2013 after the departure of Mike Pettine.
Schwartz will likely be a hot commodity as a coordinator now that he is available as well.
