Richard Manuel Jauron(born October 7, 1950) is an American former professionalfootballplayer and coach in theNational Football League(NFL). He played eight seasons in the NFL as asafety,five with theDetroit Lionsand three with theCincinnati Bengals.Jauron served as the head coach theChicago Bearsfrom 1999 to 2003 and theBuffalo Billsfrom 2006 until November 2009. He was also the interim head coach for the Lions for the final five games of the 2005 season. Jauron was named theAP Coach of the Yearin 2001 after leading the Bears to a 13–3 record.
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| No. 26, 30 | |
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| Position: | Safety |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | October 7, 1950 Peoria, Illinois,U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Swampscott (Swampscott, Massachusetts) |
| College: | Yale |
| NFL draft: | 1973/ round: 4 / pick: 91 |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| As a coach: | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 60–82 (.423) |
| Postseason: | 0–1 (.000) |
| Career: | 60–83 (.420) |
| Recordat Pro Football Reference | |
| StatsatPro Football Reference | |
Jauron playedcollege footballatYale University.He was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Famein 2015.[1]Jauron was selected a NFF Scholar Athlete in 1972.
Playing career
editEarly life
editJauron was born inPeoria, Illinois.He attended grammar school inRensselaer, Indianaand Saint Pius V elementary school in Lynn, MA.[2]He attendedSwampscott High SchoolinSwampscott, Massachusetts,and was a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was a Parade All-American selection as a senior, and was featured in the November 1968 issue ofSport magazineas Teenage Athlete Of The Month. He has been honored as one of the top ten all-time Massachusetts high school football players by theBoston Globe.[3]
College
editJauron rushed for 2,947 yards in three seasons (freshmen were not eligible for the varsity team in the 1970s) atYale,a record that stood until 2000,[4]and was three times named to the All-Ivy League First-team, the first Yale football athlete to be so honored. His school-record streak of 16 consecutive 100-yard rushing games was not broken until 2006.[5]Jauron was awarded theNils V. "Swede" Nelson Awardforsportsmanshipfollowing his junior season[6]and the Bulger Lowe Award, given to the best Division I-A/I-AA player in New England, after his senior season.[7]Jauron recorded the best rushing performance, 183 yards, inThe Gamehis senior season.[8]Yale overcame a 17–0 halftime deficit to defeat Harvard, 28–17.
At Yale Jauron was a three–time All–Ivy First-team selection in an era when freshmen were barred from playing varsity football, and a First-team All America selection during his senior year. He was also a three–time letter winner on Yale's varsity baseball team.
Jauron won the 1972Asa S. Bushnell Awardas Ivy League Player of the Year in football. He is the only athlete to hold a berth in the College Football Hall of Fame, win the Asa S. Bushnell award, and claim selection as a NFF Scholar Athlete. In 1973, Jauron won the William Neely Mallory Award, the most prestigious athletic award given to a senior male at Yale.[9]
Professional
editAfter graduating from college, Jauron was selected in the fourth round of the1973 NFL draftby theDetroit Lions.He was also drafted as a shortstop by baseball'sSt. Louis Cardinalsin the 25th round of the1973 MLB Draft.[10]
Jauron chose the NFL. He started atfree safetyas a rookie for the Lions. He was named to the1975 Pro Bowlin his second season after leading the NFC in punt return average. Jauron played with the Lions for five seasons (1973–1977) and theCincinnati Bengalsfor three seasons (1978–1980). He finished his playing career with 25 interceptions and two touchdowns.[11]
Coaching career
editEarly coaching career
editJauron began his coaching career in the NFL in 1985 as theBuffalo Billsdefensive backs coach. He was offered the position by Bills defensive coordinatorHank Bullough,who was the Bengals defensive coordinator when Jauron was a player.
After one season with the Bills, Jauron was named the defensive backs coach for theGreen Bay Packers.He worked with the team for eight seasons, serving under three different head coaches:Forrest Gregg,Lindy Infante,andMike Holmgren.
Jauron became the defensive coordinator for the expansionJacksonville Jaguarsin 1995 at the invitation of then-Jaguars head coachTom Coughlin,whom he coached with at Green Bay. The Jaguars made the playoffs in three of Jauron's four seasons with the team, including an appearance in the1996 AFC Championship Game.
Following his first head-coaching job, Jauron served as the defensive coordinator for theDetroit Lionsin 2004 and the first 11 games of the 2005 season before being named the team's interim head coach.
Chicago Bears
editJauron became the 12th head coach inChicago Bearshistory on January 23, 1999, when he was hired to replaceDave Wannstedt,who was fired after two consecutive 4–12 seasons. Jauron coached the Bears for five seasons (1999–2003), finishing with a 35–45 regular season record and one playoff appearance.
In his first two seasons, the Bears finished last in theNFC Centralwith 6–10 and 5–11 records.
Jauron, however, led the greatest turnaround in team history during his third season. In their 13–32001 campaign,Chicago finished 8–0 in games decided by seven points or less, including back-to-back overtime victories. Jauron was named the 2001AP Coach of the Yearand became the third coach in team history to record at least 13 wins in a season, joiningGeorge HalasandMike Ditka,and eventually joined by his successorLovie Smith.[12]Former Bears head coachLovie Smithjoined that group following the Bears' 13–3 regular season in 2006.
After earning their first division title in 11 years, however, Chicago lost a home game to thePhiladelphia Eagles,33–19, in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.[13]The Bears did not return to the playoffs under Jauron, finishing 4–12 and 7–9 in his last two seasons with the team. He was fired by the Bears after the 2003 season and replaced by Lovie Smith.[14]
Detroit Lions
editJauron was then hired by theDetroit Lionsas a defensive coordinator. He was promoted to interim head coach of the Lions on November 28, 2005, after the mid-season firing ofSteve Mariucci.[15]Detroit was 4–7 when Jauron took over and won only one of their last five games, finishing the season 5–11. Although Jauron was one of many candidates who interviewed for the head coaching position after the season, he was passed over forRod Marinelli.[16]
Buffalo Bills
editJauron was named the 14th head coach inBuffalo Billshistory on January 23, 2006, following the resignation ofMike Mularkey.[17]He led the Bills to three consecutive 7–9 records, finishing respectively third, second and fourth in theAFC East.In 2008 the team started 5–1, but ended the season on a 2–8 skid.
Bills ownerRalph Wilsonannounced on December 30, 2008, that Jauron would be brought back for the 2009 season despite the expiration of his three-year contract.[18]
On the morning of Friday, September 4, 2009, Jauron fired his offensive coordinator,Turk Schonert,in a morning meeting before the regular season began. Two different viewpoints emerged, Jauron stating in a press conference the reason for his firing was a "lack of productivity", while Schonert claimed that Jauron told him that he "had too many formations, too many plays", and that he "didn't simplify it to his liking."[19]Schonert was replaced the same day by former Buffalo Bills quarterback and then quarterbacks coachAlex Van Pelt.[20]After taking over, Van Pelt brought back the no-huddle offense, in the form ofJim Kelly's "K-Gun" offense that led the team to four straight Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s.
On November 17, 2009, Jauron was fired by the Bills.[21]
Philadelphia Eagles
editOn February 2, 2010, Jauron was hired by thePhiladelphia Eaglesas a senior assistant anddefensive backs coach.
Cleveland Browns
editOn January 21, 2011, Jauron was named defensive coordinator by theCleveland Browns.He replacedRob Ryan,who then became defensive coordinator for theDallas Cowboys.On January 18, 2013, newly hired head coachRob ChudzinskihiredRay Hortoninstead of keeping Jauron.[22]
Head coaching record
edit| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| CHI | 1999 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 5th in NFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| CHI | 2000 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 5th in NFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| CHI | 2001 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in NFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toPhiladelphia EaglesinNFC Divisional Game |
| CHI | 2002 | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 3rd in NFC North | - | - | - | - |
| CHI | 2003 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in NFC North | - | - | - | - |
| CHI total | 35 | 45 | 0 | .438 | - | - | - | - | ||
| DET | 2005* | 1 | 4 | 0 | .200 | 3rd in NFC North | - | - | - | - |
| DET total | 1 | 4 | 0 | .400 | - | - | - | - | ||
| BUF | 2006 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | - | - |
| BUF | 2007 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2nd in AFC East | - | - | - | - |
| BUF | 2008 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4th in AFC East | - | - | - | - |
| BUF | 2009 | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | Fired | - | - | - | - |
| BUF total | 24 | 33 | 0 | .421 | - | - | - | - | ||
| Total | 60 | 82 | 0 | .423 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |||
*Interim head coach
References
edit- ^Dick Jauronat theCollege Football Hall of Fame
- ^Birth Place PeoriaArchivedJuly 17, 2011, at theWayback Machine
- ^Gottlieb, Jeremy (July 23, 2006)."Swampscott legend steps up".Boston Globe.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.
- ^Cavanaugh, Jack (November 19, 2000)."Host Harvard Loses 'The Game' to Yale".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.
- ^"Another week, another touchdown -- or two (or three)".Yale Alumni Magazine. November–December 2007. Archived fromthe originalon July 21, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.
- ^"List of Nils V." Swede "Nelson Award winners".Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. Archived fromthe originalon April 30, 2006.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.
- ^"List of Bulger Lowe Award winners".Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. Archived fromthe originalon January 16, 2006.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.
- ^Harvard Football News 2016, The Game, pg. 39
- ^"William Neely Mallory Award - Yale".Archived fromthe originalon November 6, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 10,2017.
- ^"1973 Major League Baseball draft".mlb.
- ^"Dick Jauron's career NFL statistics".Pro Football Reference.
- ^"Bears get first division title in 11 years".CBC Sports. January 6, 2002.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.
- ^Anderson, Dave (January 20, 2002)."Before the Collapse Came the Crunch".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.
- ^"Bears boot coach Dick Jauron".Crain's Chicago Business. December 29, 2003.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.
- ^"Lions Fire Mariucci and Promote Jauron".The New York Times.November 29, 2005.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.[dead link]
- ^"Lions set to name Marinelli coach, nearing agreement".espn \date=2006-01-19.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.
- ^"Second impression: Jauron hired as Bills coach".espn.January 24, 2006.RetrievedFebruary 16,2009.
- ^"Bills' Jauron to keep job through 2009".espn.December 31, 2008.
- ^"Schonert says O 'wasn't simple enough'".espn.September 6, 2009.
- ^"Bills fire O- Boss, promote QBs coach".espn.September 4, 2009.
- ^Brian Galliford (November 17, 2009)."Buffalo Bills fire head coach Dick Jauron".RetrievedNovember 17,2009.
- ^"Cleveland Browns Hire Ray Horton to be New Defensive Coordinator".Bleacher Report.
External links
edit- Dick Jauronat theCollege Football Hall of Fame
- Career statistics fromNFL·Pro Football Reference