George H.W. Bush Lifetime of Leadership Award

Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron enters the field before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York on November 26, 2006. Buffalo won the game 27-24. (Photo by Mark Konezny/NFLPhotoLibrary)

Richard Jauron

  • Class
    1973
  • Induction
    2017
  • Sport(s)
    Football


Richard "Dick" Jauron won the 1972 Asa S. Bushnell Award as the Ivy League Football Player of the Year and earned First-Team All-American honors. He also earned All-Ivy honors in his senior year with the baseball team while serving as captain. Jauron was a three-time All-Ivy First Team Selection in an era when freshmen were barred from playing varsity football. After his senior season, Jauron, played football and baseball for the Yale Bulldogs.

Jauron is the only athlete to be in the College Football Hallf of Fame, win the Bushnell Award, and claim selection as a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete. In 1973, Jauron won the William Neely Mallory Award, the most prestigious athletic award given to a senior male at Yale. 

Following his graduation, he was selected in the fourth round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions and also was drafted as a shortstop by baseball's St. Louis Cardinals in the 25th round of the 1973 MLB Draft. 

Jauron started as free safety as a rookie for the Detroit Lions. In 1974, he was named to the Pro Bowl in his second season after leading the NFC in punt return average. Dick Jauron played with the Lions for five seasons (1973-1977) and the Cincinnati Bengals for three seasons (1978-1980). He finished his playing career with 25 interceptions and two touchdowns. 

Jauron began his coaching career in the NFL in 1985 as the Buffalo Bills Defensive Backs coach. He then spent eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers as Defensive Backs Coach and then four seasons as the Defensive Coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaugers. 

Dick Jauron became the head coach of the Chicago Bears in 1999. In 2001, he guided the Bears to a 13-3 overall record and an NFC Central title, whie being named Associated Press Coach of the Year. In 2006, Dick Jauron was named the Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills and served in that capactiy for four seasons. Jauron also spent time as the Defensive Coordinator of the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns. Overall, Dick Jauron spent 34 years in the NFL as a coach and player.
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