The Buffalo Bills are bringing back one of the most successful assistant coaches in their history.

Bruce DeHaven will return as the team's special teams coach, a league source confirmed Friday.

DeHaven, 61, coached the Bills' special teams from 1987 through '99.

He spent the past three years as special teams coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. Before

that he was with the Dallas Cowboys for four years and the San Francisco 49ers for three

years.

DeHaven lost his job in Seattle when the Seahawks changed coaches. New Seattle coach Pete

Carroll opted to bring his special teams aide from Southern California with him to the

Seahawks rather than retain DeHaven.

The Bills made no announcement on the hiring.

Buffalo is coming off an outstanding six-year run of special teams play under Bobby April. He

left after the 2009 season ended to join the Philadelphia Eagles as special teams coach.

The Bills finished No. 1 in the NFL in overall special teams performance in 2004, '05 and

'08 under April.

Marv Levy brought DeHaven to Buffalo in 1987, and over the next 13 seasons his units were

consistently excellent. Buffalo led the league in kickoff coverage four straight years from

1987 to '90. The Bills set an NFL record for fewest punt returns allowed in 1991. DeHaven

helped develop special teams stars Steve Tasker and Mark Pike.

DeHaven's coverage units had a strong season in Seattle this year. The Seahawks ranked fourth

in kickoff coverage and 11th in net punting.

DeHaven was fired by Wade Phillips after the Bills lost the wild card playoff game at

Tennessee on a lateral-kickoff return touchdown play in the final seconds.

The move, however, backfired on Phillips. The next season the Bills had the dubious and

unprecedented distinction of finishing last in the NFL in all four coverage and return

categories. That was a factor in Phillips being fired after the 2000 season.