ST. LOUIS — Former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has been hired to fill the same post with the St. Louis Rams, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday night.

The Rams have yet to officially announce the hiring.

Ryan, 50, will take over a Rams defense that was coached by committee last season after defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended by the NFL for his role in the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal.

Williams has yet to be reinstated by the NFL, and Rams coach Jeff Fisher announced earlier this month that Williams' son, Blake, who made most of the defensive calls for the Rams last season, wouldn't be back with the team.

Fisher has strong ties to Ryan's family.

Ryan's father, Buddy, was the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears when Fisher played then from 1981-85.

Fisher also served as Buddy Ryan's defensive coordinator from 1988-90 when he was the coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rob Ryan was the Cowboys' defensive coordinator for the past two seasons under coach Jason Garrett.

The Cowboys' defense ranked 14th overall in 2011 and 19th overall 2012 despite missing five starters because of injuries.

Garrett said recently that the outspoken Ryan was fired because of a lack of turnovers by his unit.

The Cowboys had just 16 turnovers to tie for the fourth-fewest in the NFL. Their seven interceptions tied for the fewest in the league with Kansas City.

After being fired by the Cowboys, Rob Ryan said he'd out of work for "like five minutes,'' but it was actually 16 days before he reached the agreement with the Rams.

Rob Ryan ran a 3-4 defense with the Cowboys, but he'll be in charge of a Rams defense that tied for the NFL lead in sacks last season with 52 running a 4-3 alignment.

Rob Ryan is a native of Ardmore, Okla., who attended high school in Illinois at Lincolnshire-Stevenson. He played defensive end opposite his twin brother, Rex, at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Rex Ryan is the coach of the New York Jets.

Rob Ryan previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders from 2004-08 and the Cleveland Browns from 2009-10.

Contact reporter Steve Korte at skorte@bnd.com or 239-2522.