Dick Jauron, a former Detroit Lions safety and NFL coach, has passed away at the age of 74 after recently being diagnosed with cancer. Jauron played for the Lions during the 1970s, earning a Pro Bowl selection and finishing second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 1973. Over his eight-season career, he accumulated 25 interceptions, playing five seasons with Detroit and three with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jauron’s coaching career spanned from 1985 to 2012. He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2001 while serving as head coach of the Chicago Bears. After a year away from football, Jauron returned to Detroit as the defensive coordinator for the Lions under head coach Steve Mariucci. Following Mariucci’s firing midway through the 2005 season, Jauron was appointed as the interim head coach.
Although Jauron interviewed for the Lions’ permanent head coaching job after a 1-4 finish, the team ultimately hired Rod Marinelli. Jauron later took over as head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2006 to 2009. He also had coaching stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns, finishing his NFL career as the Browns’ defensive coordinator from 2011 to 2012. Throughout his decade-long coaching career, Jauron’s teams posted a record of 60-82, including a 0-1 postseason record.
