Dick Jauron was the accidental Bears coach — hired in a pinch in 1999 a day after Bears president Michael McCaskey botched the hiring of Dave McGinnis in an indelible episode of Bears dysfunction.
It was the opportunity of a lifetime for Jauron, who died Saturday at 74 after being diagnosed with cancer this week. A former Pro Bowl safety with the Lions, he was getting his first head coaching opportunity at 48 after 14 seasons as an assistant, including the previous four seasons as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator. But it wasn’t exactly the right place at the right time.