In breaking news, Dick Jauron, a former player and coach for the Detroit Lions, has passed away at the age of 74. The team confirmed his death on Saturday. Jauron had been battling cancer, according to his family.
Jauron’s journey to the NFL began in Swampscott, Massachusetts, where he attended high school before playing football at Yale University. During his time with the Bulldogs, Jauron was a standout running back, amassing 2,947 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns over three seasons. In 1972, he led the Ivy League in rushing yards, helping Yale to a 7-2 record and a spot in the Associated Press Poll’s Top 20. Jauron was picked by the Detroit Lions as the 91st overall selection in the 1973 NFL Draft. Remarkably, he was also drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the MLB Draft that same year.
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… pic.twitter.com/LIPtaDeABB
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) February 8, 2025
As a rookie in Detroit, Jauron made an immediate impact, recording five fumble recoveries and four interceptions. His stellar performance earned him a second-place finish for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, behind Wally Chambers of the Chicago Bears. Over his 58 games with the Lions, Jauron recorded 14 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1974. He later spent three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, ending his playing career with a total of 25 interceptions.
Following his retirement from playing, Jauron transitioned into coaching. He began as a defensive backs coach with the Buffalo Bills in 1985, later moving to the Green Bay Packers from 1986 to 1994. Jauron’s big break came when he was appointed as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1995 to 1998. In 1999, he was named head coach of the Chicago Bears, where he led the team to a remarkable 13-3 season in 2001, earning AP Coach of the Year honors. However, after the 2003 season, Jauron was let go and joined the Detroit Lions as defensive coordinator under Steve Mariucci.
When Mariucci was dismissed midway through the 2005 season, Jauron was promoted to interim head coach, finishing the year with a 1-4 record in the final five games. Despite not being retained, he was hired as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills in the offseason. Jauron’s tenure in Buffalo lasted four seasons before he was let go in 2009. He later served as a senior assistant and defensive backs coach with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010 and wrapped up his coaching career as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns from 2011 to 2012.
Eric Wood, former center for the Bills, reflected on his time under Jauron in a statement, saying, “I was very fortunate to start my NFL career with Dick Jauron as my first head coach. He set a great foundation for my career with his extensive knowledge of the NFL game and helped us develop as professionals both on and off the field. Coach Jauron was a sincere and thoughtful family man and a true gentleman. My heart goes out to his family during this difficult time.”
In 2015, Jauron was honored with an election to the College Football Hall of Fame. At Yale, he was named Ivy League Player of the Year in 1972, a year in which he also earned a spot on the all-conference first team. Jauron was also the captain of the Yale baseball team and earned all-conference honors in that sport as well.
A man of great character and a beloved figure in both football and his community, Jauron’s legacy will be remembered for his contributions to the game and his impact on those he coached and played with.
