The Rams hired former Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to take over their defense, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Cowboys fired Ryan on Jan. 8, and he interviewed with the Rams last Friday. Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said the defense’s lack of turnovers factored in Ryan’s firing — Dallas had only 16 takeaways in 2012.

A handful of assistants coached the Rams’ defense last season after defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely for his role in the Saints’ bounty scandal. The Rams announced that Williams would not be with the team in 2013.

This will be Ryan’s fourth NFL stop as a defensive coordinator. He was with the Raiders (2004-08), Browns (2009-10) and Cowboys (2011-12). Ryan coached the Patriots’ linebackers from 2000-03.