Former Detroit Lions safety and defensive coordinator Dick Jauron passed on Saturday morning.
Per several reports, former Detroit Lions player and coach Dick Jauron passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 74. Jauron was reportedly battling cancer in his final days.
Jauron was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1973 and played five seasons as a safety with the Lions. He made the Pro Bowl as a punt returning in 1974 and finished his Detroit career with 58 games played, 14 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, and a 10.1 punt return average on 40 opportunities.
Jauron became more well-known for his coaching career. In 1985, he started as a defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills. A decade later, he became the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator before earning his first head coaching gig as the Chicago Bears’ head coach in 1999. There, he won AP Coach of the Year in 2001 following a 13-3 season.
Four years later, he became the Lions’ defensive coordinator. He held that job for two years and even became the team’s interim head coach in 2005 when the Lions opted to fire Steve Mariucci in the middle of the season. When the Lions hired Rod Marinelli in 2006, Jauron was not retained.
He then returned to the Buffalo Bills to be their next head coach for two years before ending his coaching career as an Eagles defensive assistant (2010) and Browns defensive coordinator (2011-12).
The Detroit Lions offered this statement via social media on Jauron’s passing.
The Detroit Lions join the NFL community in mourning the passing of Dick Jauron.
Originally drafted by Detroit in 1973, Jauron enjoyed a five-year playing career as a standout defensive back with the Lions that included a Pro Bowl selection in 1974. He returned to the franchise as defensive coordinator from 2004-05 before serving as interim head coach to conclude the 2005 season.
