Dallas Cowboys reportedly hire former Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan

Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan leaves the NFL team's headquarters Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, in Berea, Ohio. After two 5-11 seasons, head coach Eric Mangini was fired by team president Mike Holmgren, who was to meet later with Ryan and the rest of Mangini's staff regarding their future with the team. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan won't be back with the Browns next season. On Sunday, NFL.com reported the Dallas Cowboys have hired Ryan to be their defensive coordinator.

Dick Jauron, who's now the defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, is the favorite to replace Ryan, NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reported. If the Browns hire Jauron, they will likely switch from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3.

Ryan was not expected to return to Cleveland after Pat Shurmur was hired as the team's new head coach this past Thursday. He still has one year remaining on his contract with the Browns.

Ryan spent the past two seasons guiding Cleveland's defense, a unit that ranked 22nd in 2010 and 31st in 2009.

A few weeks ago, Ryan, who has been a defensive coordinator for seven of his 12 seasons as an NFL coach, acknowledged his days with the Browns could be over if the organization changed its head coach. Browns President Mike Holmgren fired coach Eric Mangini on Jan. 3 after the team posted a record of 5-11 for the second consecutive season.

"I love Eric," Ryan said on Dec. 31. "He hired me, and I’d be more than happy to go out with him if that’s what it takes."

Ryan also made it clear he thought Mangini and his assistant coaches should have received one more season to prove themselves to Holmgren.

"If they break it up, I’m not going to farm anybody’s land, but that would be dumb as hell," Ryan said on Dec. 23.