Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills announced on Saturday that former head coach Dick Jauron has passed away at the age of 74.
Jauron was the 14th head coach in Bills history, hired in 2006 and remained with the team under he was fired partway through the 2009 season.
After a brief playing career in the NFL as a defensive back with the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals between 1973 and 1980, Jauron began his coaching career with the Bills as a defensive backs coach under Hank Bullough in 1985.
Following a one-year stint in Buffalo, Jauron went on to have long-term success with the Green Bay Packers, serving as their defensive backs coach from 1986-94.
That eventually led to Jauron became defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995, where he spent three seasons before becoming head coach of the Chicago Bears in 1999.
During his stint in Chicago, Jauron won the AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2001. However, he ended up getting fired just two years later, and went on to become the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions for two seasons. He also served as interim head coach for the Lions after the team let go of Steve Mariucci midseason.
That eventually led to Jauron taking over in Buffalo with the Bills, where he led Buffalo to three-straight seasons of 7-9 football between 2006 and 2008.
After a hot 5-1 start to the 2008 season, Jauron's group fell back to Earth hard with a 2-8 finish to the year.
Then after a 3-6 start to the 2009 season, Jauron was fired by the Bills and replaced by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
Jauron wrapped up his coaching career as a senior assistant and defensive backs coach with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010, followed by a two-year stint as the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns.