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Dennis Thurman hired as Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator; Jim Schwartz out

By Brandon C. Williams

Dennis Thurman joins longtime coaching pal Rex Ryan in Buffalo, as he was named defensive coordinator for the Bills. Photo credit: Metro.us
Dennis Thurman joins longtime coaching pal Rex Ryan in Buffalo, as he was named defensive coordinator for the Bills. Photo credit: Metro.us /
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New Bills coach Rex Ryan brought in longtime assistant Dennis Thurman to become Buffalo’s new defensive coordinator, while sending out Jim Schwartz in the process.

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All Jim Schwartz did during this past regular season was jell a Buffalo Bills defense into an aggressive unit that finished fourth in total defense, while keeping the team in the postseason chase in the process.

His reward? A pink slip.

New Bills coach Rex Ryan wasn’t too thrilled about having Schwartz, as he sent him packing in favor of Dennis Thurman, who has coached with Ryan in all but one year since 2002. Thurman served as Ryan’s defensive coordinator for the New York Jets the past two seasons.

Thurman was a defensive assistant and defensive backs coach with Ryan when the two were with the Baltimore Ravens from 2002-07. Thurman was let go after the ’07 season and joined the Jets as their defensive backs coach in 2008. The two were reunited in 2009 when Ryan became head coach of the J-E-T-S Jets! Jets!.

The 58-year-old Thurman has been successful since joining the Dallas Cowboys as an 11th round pick in 1978. Thurman played eight years with the Cowboys, appearing in four NFC championship games and a Super Bowl before ending his playing career with the (then) St. Louis Cardinals in 1986. His coaching career began with the Cards as a defensive backs coach in 1988, before he moved to Southern Cal (his alma mater), where he served as defensive backs coach from 1993-2000.

Schwartz, who was the head coach for the Detroit Lions from 2009-13, interviewed for the Bills’ opening after Doug Marrone opted out of his contract and replaced Ryan as the coach of Gang Green, yet his fate was sealed when Ryan was named coach on Monday, mainly because the two had very different philosophies regarding defense.

There’s no need to worry about Schwartz, whose work will make him a hot commodity as a defensive coordinator almost immediately.

Buffalo finished 9-7 this past season, which marked the team’s best record since 2004. Schwartz’s defense finished fourth in the NFL in both total yards and fewest points allowed, yet the Bills’ playoff hopes were dashed by an offense that finished 18th in points and 26th in yards per game.

The defense also led the league with 54 sacks, as ends Mario Williams (14.5) and Jerry Hughes (10) and tackle Marcell Dareus (10) each hit double digits in successful visits to the quarterback.

Under Thurman, the Jets finished 25th in points per game allowed (25.1), although they did record 45 sacks. With much better personnel, Thurman should be able to keep the Bills among the toughest defensive units in the league.

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