Former Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron died Saturday morning after a short battle with cancer. He was 74.
The news was first reported by the Daily Item in Swampscott, Mass., where he attended high school.
Jauron served as the head coach of the Bears from 1999-2003. His best season came in 2001, when he was named the NFL Coach of the Year after Chicago posted a 13-3 record.
Unfortunately for Jauron, the Bears went 4-12 in 2002 and 7-9 in 2003, and he was fired by the team. He finished with a 35-45 mark.
Jauron joined the Detroit Lions as defensive coordinator in 2004 and served as their interim head coach for the final five games of the 2005 season after Steve Mariucci was dismissed. Jauron went 1-4 in that time.
He was named the Bills’ head coach in 2006. The team was 24-33 in 3 1/2 before Jauron was fired after Week 10 in 2009.
“I was very fortunate to start my NFL career with Dick Jauron as my first head coach,” said Eric Wood, a former Bills center who was drafted in the first round by Jauron in 2009. “He set a great foundation for my career with his extensive knowledge of the NFL game and helped us develop as professionals both on and off the field. Coach Jauron was a sincere and thoughtful family man and a true gentleman. My heart goes out to his family during this difficult time.”
Jauron spent 2010 as the defensive backs coach/senior assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles and 2011-12 as the defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns.
Jauron, a safety, was selected by the Lions in the fourth round of the 1973 NFL Draft out of Yale.
A Pro Bowl selection in 1974, Jauron recorded 25 interceptions — including two returned for touchdowns — in 100 career games with the Lions (1973-77) and Cincinnati Bengals (1978-80).
Jauron was named to the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame after excelling during his three seasons as a running back at Yale. He totaled 2,947 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dick Jauron, a true gentleman and an exceptional football mind,” National Football Foundation chairman Archie Manning said. “As a College Football Hall of Famer, an NFF National Scholar-Athlete, and one of the greatest running backs in Ivy League history, Dick embodied the highest ideals of our game — excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in life. His impact extended well beyond his playing days, as he became a respected coach and leader in the NFL. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all those who were fortunate enough to know him.”
