Jauron, former Bears, Bills head coach, dies at 74

Former Chicago Bears head coach Dick Jauron, who was named AP Coach of the Year in 2001 after leading the Bears to a 13-3 record, died Saturday. He was 74.

Jauron coached the Bears from 1999 to 2003, finishing with a 35-45 record in Chicago. He later coached the Buffalo Bills from 2006 to 2009 and went 24-33 in three-plus seasons. He was also the interim head coach for the Detroit Lions for the final five games of the 2005 season.

We’re saddened to learn about the passing of former Head Coach Dick Jauron. ❤️💙

We are thinking of his friends, family, and loved ones during this difficult time: https://t.co/EkWBaJJ9yE pic.twitter.com/JIg6Y1qTDA

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) February 8, 2025

Before his coaching career, Jauron was an NFL safety for eight seasons. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1973 NFL draft by the Lions. He played in Detroit for five years before finishing his playing career with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jauron, a standout running back at Yale, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.