Cleveland Browns hire d**k Jauron as defensive coordinator
Joking about the Cleveland Browns’ defence was one of the highlights at head coach Pat Shurmur’s introductory news conference. However, he hired probably the most serious defensive coordinator in the business.
Shurmur recruited former head coach d**k Jauron as the Browns’ new defensive coordinator on Friday. The highly respected 60-year-old spent last season with the Philadelphia Eagles as their secondary coach.
Shurmur praised Jauron by saying, "He has a tremendous knowledge of the game and is an excellent teacher. His experience in the NFL as a player, position coach, coordinator and head coach will be a huge asset to our staff."
Shurmur and Jauron go way back. Jauron coached and player with Fritz Shurmur, Pat’s uncle, when they were both with the Green Bay Packers. Jauron has been coordinator before and was also head coach for the Chicago Bears from 1999 to 2003, and for the Buffalo
Bills from 2006 to 2009. He has a 60-82 record overall.
He also has ties to Mike Holmgren, president of the Browns. When Holmgren was head coach of the Packers, Jauron was the defensive backs coach.
The Eagles secondary was the third best in the National Football Conference (NFC) with 23 interceptions last season under Jauron. Cornerback Asante Samuel had seven of those picks and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Before he was the Bears head coach, Jauron was the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1996 to 1998. The team made the playoffs three times in a period of four years and also the American Football Conference (AFC) championship in 1996.
Jauron had plenty of interest from a couple of other teams in the NFL but decided that his abilities would be best utilised in Cleveland, where he will most likely apply his own 4-3 scheme instead of the Browns’ normal 3-4.
"There were many elements of this job that were attractive for me," Jauron said. He added, "I believe that with people like Pat Shurmur, Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert in place, this organisation is building a solid foundation. I can't wait to get started
with the Browns."
Jauron was the star of both baseball and football at Yale University and set many records with the Bulldogs. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round, overall pick 91, in the 1973 NFL Draft as free safety. He led the AFC in punt returns and
was selected to the Pro Bowl as a punt returner in his second year as a professional. He was also selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, but decided to go pursue football rather than baseball.
He was with the Lions for five seasons and spent four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished his career with 25 interceptions and two touchdowns.
Shurmur was hired by the Browns last week and is their fifth head coach in 12 years. He is currently looking for an offensive coordinator to replace Brian Daboll, after he was fired and then signed with the Miami Dolphins for the same position. He had been
looking for a defensive coordinator ever since two-year defensive coordinator Eric Mangini signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Jauron replaces Mangini as defensive coordinator.
In similar news, the team spokesman said that special teams' coordinator Brad Seely, has left the team after spending two years with the Browns and creating the league’s best coverage and kick return units.
Tags: