Longtime coach and 2001 AP NFL Head Coach of the Year Dick Jauron passed away on Saturday.
He was 74 years old.
Jauron, who spent eight seasons total as the head coach of the Bills and Bears, passed away after a brief game against cancer, according to a Facebook post from her daughter, Casey. Teammates, husbands, fathers, coaches, humans, we were all very fortunate. ”
Before his coaching career, Jauron spent eight seasons in the NFL, playing safety for the Lions and Bengals, appearing in the Pro Bowl in 1974.
As a head coach in Chicago, Jauron went 35-45 and won Coach of the Year after leading the Bears to a 13-3 record in 2001 before falling for the Eagles in the playoff division round.
As the Bills' head coach, he went 24-33.
According to the team's website, former Bills center Eric Wood said, “I was extremely fortunate to start my NFL career with Dick Jauron as my first head coach.” “He has built a great foundation for my career with his extensive knowledge of the NFL games and helped me develop as an expert on and off the field. Coach Jauron is a sincere and thoughtful family man and a true gentleman. did.
“My heart is directed towards his family during these difficult times.”
He also served as interim head coach for the Lions in 2005, making it 1-4.
During his last NFL stint, Jauron served as defensive coordinator for the Browns in 2011-12.
Jauron grew up in Massachusetts, played college football at Yale and made the first team across the nation into running back.
His death comes days after Bears owner Virginia McCasky passed away at the age of 102.
