Dick Jauron, who led the Bears a 13-3 record and was named AP Coach of the Year in 2001, died Saturday at 74. The Daily Item in Massachusetts reported that he died of cancer.
Jauron was named the 12th head coach in Bears history in 1999 after a clunky search. Dave McGinnis had been announced as the team’s head coach before he’d even agreed to take it. The Bears even changed the answering machine message on the head coach’s phone to say McGinnis was in charge.
When they couldn’t work out a deal, the Bears pivoted to Jauron, who had been the defensive coordinator for the Jaguars.