Dick Jauron, former NFL player and head coach who led the Chicago Bears to the playoffs, passed away on February 8, 2025, at the age of 74.
The decorated head coach, Jauron, had been battling brain cancer, which had spread to other areas of his body in recent weeks.
Chicago Bears confirmed his death, which came just a day before the Philadelphia Eagles, where Jauron had once served as an assistant to Andy Reid, the current head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, were set to face the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
Likewise, the Buffalo Bills also wrote:
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.
Buffalo Bills
Dick Jauron is survived by his wife, Gail, and daughter Kacy. The former NFL player and head coach, Jauron, was married to Gail until his last breath.
Gail has been by his side throughout his life, although she has maintained a relatively private life away from the media.
The couple had two daughters, Kacy and Amy; however, the latter passed away on December 28, 2014, at the age of 28.
Dick Jauron Had an Impressive Playing Career Before Transitioning to Coaching and Leading Multiple NFL Teams!
Dick Jauron was a well-respected figure in the NFL community. He began his sports career at Yale University, where he excelled in both football and baseball.
Later, the Detroit Lions drafted him in the NFL, and the St. Louis Cardinals in MLB in the early 1970s. However, Jauron chose football and played as a defensive back.
He played for the Detroit Lions from 1973 to 1977 and for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1973 to 1980.
The former NFL player Jauron’s impressive playing career of eight years included 25 interceptions and a Pro Bowl selection in 1974.
Jauron transitioned to coaching in 1985, starting as a defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills. He later coached defensive backs for the Green Bay Packers and served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It was in 1999 when he became the head coach of the Chicago Bears, leading them to a 13-3 record and winning the AP NFL Coach of the Year award in 2001.
Likewise, Jauron also led the Chicago Bears to the NFC North title that year.
After leaving the Bears in 2003, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions and later became the head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2006 to 2009.
He finished his coaching career with stints as a senior assistant and defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Dick Jauron had an estimated net worth of $2 million at the time of his passing, earned from his successful 28-year coaching career.
- Jauron was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015 for his outstanding career at Yale University.
