The Jets held the door open for Mike Pettine, and the Bills were eager to welcome him in.
According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, the Bills have hired Pettine as their defensive coordinator.
The move was expected, but the pace with which new coach Doug Marrone is filling a staff implies a plan was well in place. He hired brought his Syracuse offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett with him from his previous job. And Marrone’s own background on that side of the ball makes Pettine’s presence more important.
The Bills have some parts to work with on defense, but what Pettine gets most is a degree of independence, as he’s no longer working for a defensive coach putting his own, ahem, imprint on things.