Ron Erhardt, the Steelers offensive coordinator from 1992-95, died Wednesday morning in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 80 years old.
Erhardt won three divisional championships in four seasons with Pittsburgh, including an AFC championship in 1995.
He was named offensive coordinator under first-year coach Bill Cowher and newly appointed Player Personnel Director Tom Donahoe. The Steelers bounced back from a 7-9 finish to 11-5 with the first of those three divisional titles.Erhardt’s offense developed Neil O’Donnell from a third round pick in 1991 to one of the better passers in the league by 1995. Under his guidance, the Steelers flourished with a new offensive identity. With running backs Barry Foster and Erric Pegram, the Steelers were a solid running team, but O’Donnell and WR Yancey Thigpen, the team threw the ball as frequently as at any point in Cowher’s regime.
Erhardt is most famously known as the offensive coordinator who won two Super Bowls under Giants coach Bill Parcells in 1986 and 1990. He was the head coach of the New England Patriots from 1979-81, compiling a 21-27 record.
He also coached Division II North Dakota State University to two national championships between 1966 and 1973.
Source: Behind the Steel Curtain
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