Former NFL safety and coach Dick Jauron has passed away at the age of 74 after battling cancer, according to multiple reports on Saturday morning.
Jauron was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 1973 NFL Draft. He finished as the runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year (with four interceptions and five fumble recoveries) and made the Pro Bowl as a punt returner in 1974.
During his five seasons with the Lions, he played 58 games, recorded 14 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, and averaged 10.1 yards per punt return. He spent the final three years of his playing career (1978-1980) with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jauron is best remembered for his coaching career. He began in 1985 as the defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills. After a long stint (1986-1994) with the Green Bay Packers in the same role, he became the defensive coordinator for the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.
In 1999, Jauron became the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Over five seasons, he had a 35-45 record, with his best year coming in 2001, when he led the team to a 13-3 record and was named AP Coach of the Year.
Jauron returned to the Lions in 2004 as the defensive coordinator under head coach Steve Mariucci. After Mariucci was fired, Jauron served as the interim head coach in 2005, finishing with one win in five games. He was not retained when Rod Marinelli was hired in 2006.
Jauron then became the head coach of the Buffalo Bills in 2006. His three-plus seasons there ended with a 24-33 record. Later, he worked as a senior defensive assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010 and as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns from 2011-2012.