jim schwartz

Jim Schwartz is leaving as the Bills' defensive coordinator even though ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan asked him to stay on, according to reports. (Timothy T. Ludwig | USA TODAY Sports)

It looks like Rex Ryan is building a coaching staff with the Bills comprised of many of his hand-picked assistants with the Jets.

Kim Jones of NFL Network—a Star-Ledger alumna—reported Monday night that ex-Jets defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman will take over as the Bills' defensive coordinator. That news immediately followed reports—from Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News and Alex Marvez of Fox Sports—that Jim Schwartz would not be staying on in that role, even though Ryan wanted him to do so.

Ryan, of course, is known as a defensive coach, and the Bills were second in defensive DVOA in 2014, per Football Outsiders. ESPN New York had reported earlier Monday that Ryan will likely try to bring many of his former Jets staffers with him to Buffalo—specifically Thurman, defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, assistant defensive line/linebackers coach Jeff Weeks, defensive backs coach Tim McDonald, quarterbacks coach David Lee, and possibly offensive assistant Tony Sparano Jr. and running backs coach Anthony Lynn.

Thurman had been the Jets' defensive coordinator the last two seasons after five years as their defensive backs coach.

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Dom Cosentino may be reached at dcosentino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @domcosentino. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.