BILLS NAME SCHWARTZ AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Orchard Park, NY – The Buffalo Bills have announced that Jim Schwartz has agreed to terms to become the team’s defensive coordinator.

Schwartz, 47, will enter his 21^st year in the NFL coaching ranks and ninth as a defensive coordinator. He served in the same capacity with the Tennessee Titans from 2001-08 overseeing a defense that finished in the top 10 in both rushing yards allowed per game (5^th-103.5) and third down conversion rate (6^th-36.1%) during his tenure.

Hired in 2009 as the Detroit Lions head coach, Schwartz led Detroit to a 10-6 record in 2011 en route to the team’s first playoff appearance since 1999.

“We are excited to add a talented and accomplished coordinator in Jim Schwartz to our staff,” said Bills head coach Doug Marrone.  “Schwartz has led aggressive and productive defensive units throughout his time in the NFL and we feel our defense will continue to improve under his leadership.”

Schwartz instilled an aggressive style of defense as the head coach of the Lions, leading the 2011 version of the Detroit defense to 34 takeaways (third in the NFL) and a franchise record seven defensive touchdowns.  Schwartz also led the Lions’ pass rush to a dramatic improvement in 2010, registering 44 sacks (sixth in the NFL) compared to just 30 in 2009.

Under Schwartz’s guidance, Lions’ DT Ndamukong Suh was named to the Pro Bowl in three of his first four seasons in addition to earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-Pro honors in 2010.

During his tenure as the Titans’ defensive coordinator, Schwartz’s defenses continually ranked amongst the league’s best—finishing in the top 10 in total defense three times in addition to the Tennessee rushing defense tallying five top-10 finishes..Schwartz also played a key role in helping seven Titans defenders earn Pro Bowl honors during his time with Tennessee.

In 2003, Schwartz oversaw the league’s top rushing defense as the Titans allowed just 80.9 yards per game to opposing rushers. The performance marked just the second time in franchise history that Tennessee finished atop the league’s rushing defense rankings.

Prior to being named the Titans’ defensive coordinator, Schwartz worked for Tennessee in multiple capacities including as the linebackers/third down package coach in 2000 and as a defensive assistant in 1999.

Schwartz started his NFL career as a college and pro scout with the Cleveland Browns from 1993-96 under head coach Bill Belichick before making the switch to coaching in 1996 as a defensive assistant for the Baltimore Ravens.

Before making the jump to the NFL, Schwartz worked on the college level for four years. He began his career as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Maryland, working with the Terrapins’ linebackers from 1989-90 and then served as graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota (1990-91). He became a position coach with the secondary at North Carolina Central (1991-92) before moving to Colgate (1992) as linebackers coach.

Schwartz as an NFL Defensive Coordinator
		NFL RANK					AFC RANK
YEAR	TEAM	TOTAL	RUSH	PASS		TOTAL	RUSH	PASS
2001	Tennessee	25th	5th	31st		15th	3rd	16th
2002	Tennessee	10th	2nd	25th		5th	2nd	13th
2003	Tennessee	12th	1st	30th		9th	1st	15th
2004	Tennessee	27th	18th	26th		13th	11th	12th
2005	Tennessee	19th	22nd	17th		10th	11th	7th
2006	Tennessee	32nd	30th	27th		16th	15th	15th
2007	Tennessee	5th	5th	10th		4th	3rd	9th
2008	Tennessee	7th	6th	9th		3rd	3rd	4th

 

 

 

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