Former Bears coach Dick Jauron dies
Dick Jauron, who led the Bears a 13-3 record and was named AP Coach of the Year in 2001, died Saturday at 74.Jauron was named the 12th head coach in Bears history in 1999 after a clunky search. Dave McGinnis had been announced as the team’s head coach before he’d even agreed to take it. The Bears even changed the answering machine message on the head coach’s phone to say McGinnis was in charge.When they couldn’t work out a deal, the Bears pivoted to Jauron, who had been the defensive coordinator for the Jaguars. He had one winning season out of five. General manager Jerry Angelo, who did not fire Jauron, fired him after going 7-9 in 2003 and replaced him by Lovie Smith. Jauron finished his Bears career with a 35-45 record, but left the team with talent. The Bears’ 2023 draft class included future Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Tillman, seven-time Pro Bowl player Lance Briggs and cornerback Charles Tillman.He was hired as the Lions’ defensive coordinator and served as their interim head coach for part of the 2005 season before the Bills named him their head coach in 2006. He didn’t post a winning season in three-and-a-half years there, finishing with a 24-33 record.Jauron was born in Peoria but attended Swampscott High School in Massachusetts. He was a first-team All-American running back at Yale and played safety for eight years with the Lions and Bengals, reaching the Pro Bowl once.The Daily Item in Massachussets reported that he died of cancer.
Dick Jauron, who led the Bears a 13-3 record and was named AP Coach of the Year in 2001, died Saturday at 74.
Jauron was named the 12th head coach in Bears history in 1999 after a clunky search. Dave McGinnis had been announced as the team’s head coach before he’d even agreed to take it. The Bears even changed the answering machine message on the head coach’s phone to say McGinnis was in charge.
When they couldn’t work out a deal, the Bears pivoted to Jauron, who had been the defensive coordinator for the Jaguars. He had one winning season out of five. General manager Jerry Angelo, who did not fire Jauron, fired him after going 7-9 in 2003 and replaced him by Lovie Smith.
Jauron finished his Bears career with a 35-45 record, but left the team with talent. The Bears’ 2023 draft class included future Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Tillman, seven-time Pro Bowl player Lance Briggs and cornerback Charles Tillman.
He was hired as the Lions’ defensive coordinator and served as their interim head coach for part of the 2005 season before the Bills named him their head coach in 2006. He didn’t post a winning season in three-and-a-half years there, finishing with a 24-33 record.
Jauron was born in Peoria but attended Swampscott High School in Massachusetts. He was a first-team All-American running back at Yale and played safety for eight years with the Lions and Bengals, reaching the Pro Bowl once.
The Daily Item in Massachussets reported that he died of cancer.
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