National Football League

Wannstedt visits Bills in seeking defensive job

Published Jan. 13, 2011 11:44 p.m. ET

foxsports

Former Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt met with friend and former colleague Chan Gailey on Thursday to see if the Buffalo Bills' coach might have for a job for him.

The Bills did not provide details in announcing the meeting had taken place Thursday.

Forced to resign by Pittsburgh last month, Wannstedt has an extensive defensive background and would be a good fit for a Bills defense that had difficulty stopping the run and allowed 30 or more points nine times.

Wannstedt is familiar with Gailey, who completed his first year as the Bills' coach. When Wannstedt became coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2000, he hired Gailey as his offensive coordinator. Gailey spent two seasons with the Dolphins before moving on to coach at Georgia.

What's unclear is what position Wannstedt would be offered in Buffalo.

The Bills currently have one opening, at inside linebacker, after DeMontie Cross was fired last week.

Despite Buffalo's defensive struggles, coordinator George Edwards is expected to keep his job after completing his first season. Edwards took the job less than a month after he was hired to be the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida.

The Bills defense was last in the NFL against the run, allowing 2,714 yards rushing - the second highest total in franchise history. Buffalo allowed 200 yards eight times last season.

Wannstedt was ousted after six years at Pittsburgh, and following a 7-5 season in which the Panthers were picked to win the Big East. He declined the option to finish the season with the team, and was not on the sideline for Pitt's 27-10 win over Kentucky in the Compass Bowl last weekend.

Wannstedt spent four-plus seasons coaching the Dolphins and six seasons as coach of the Chicago Bears in the 1990s.