The Buffalo Bills would only announce publicly Thursday that Dave Wannstedt visited with the team, but indications are that the Bills are looking to hire him as an Assistant Head Coach and help the ailing defense.

Word is Wannstedt is looking to become an assistant head coach and Chan Gailey would be happy to have him on board.  The two have a working past together with Gailey serving as offensive coordinator in Miami when Wannstedt was head coach there in 2000-01.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that even if the Bills hire Wannstedt, current defensive coordinator George Edwards is likely to be retained.

Wannstedt had been the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh for the past six years before being fired.  He compiled a 42-31 record there but his 7-5 record and failure to land in a BSC bowl game this year sealed his fate.

Wannstedt has had success as a defensive coordinator before, running the Dallas Cowboys defense for four years from 1989-92. In his last season his defense was dominant, culminating in beating the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl, 52-17.

He left Dallas to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears the following season and lasted until 1998.  After a year as defensive coordinator in Miami he was elevated to head coach in 2000; a title he kept for five years.

The only known opening on the Bills defensive staff is at inside linebackers coach, opened this week when DeMontie Cross was fired.

Hiring Wannstedt can’t hurt.  The defense was abysmal this year, giving up the second most rushing yards (2,714) in team history.

A deal could be done by the weekend, though Schefter also reported that San Diego, Carolina and Cleveland have expressed interest in his services.