Ron Meyer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ron Meyer (born February 17, 1941) is a former college and professional football coach. He is best known for being the head coach of the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.

Meyer's head coaching career began at UNLV, where he coached from 1971 to 1975. In 1974, he had an undefeated season at UNLV at 11-0. In 1976, Meyer was the head coach of Southern Methodist University where he coached until 1981. This tenure winning the Southwest Conference championship in 1981.

Meyer moved to the pros in 1982, where he would coach the New England Patriots for 3 seasons. He was named the AFC Coach of the Year in his first season where he led the New England Patriots to the playoffs after the team had finished with the league's worst record the prior season. He is perhaps best-remembered by New England fans for being the Patriots coach during the infamous Snow-Plow Game on December 12, 1982. In 1984, he was fired midseason and replaced by Raymond Berry.

Meyer spent over a year out of coaching after being dismissed by the Patriots. Late in the 1986 season, he was hired to coach the Indianapolis Colts. A year later, he won the AFC East Division title with the Colts where he once again won the AFC Coach of the Year. In 1991, when the Colts started off 0-5, he was let go.

The year after his dismissal from Indianapolis, Meyer became an analyst for CNN's Pro Football show. He would remain in that role for 2 seasons.

In 1994, Meyer returned to coaching again. This time Meyer became the head coach of the Canadian Football League's Las Vegas Posse franchise. The Posse finished the season 5-13. In addition to the poor record, the team suffered from poor attendance and eventually folded. Meyer would return to his role at CNN the following season.

In 2000, Meyer would return to coaching yet again. This time as part of the XFL's Chicago Enforcers franchise. The team would finish 5-5 and would lose to the eventual champion, the Los Angeles Xtreme. After the season, the XFL folded.

Preceded by Dave Smith	Southern Methodist University Head Football Coach 1976–1981	Succeeded by Bobby Collins
Preceded by Ron Erhardt	New England Patriots Head Coaches 1982–1984	Succeeded by Raymond Berry
Preceded by Rod Dowhower	Indianapolis Colts Head Coaches 1986–1991	Succeeded by Rick Venturi

Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts Head Coaches
Molesworth • Ewbank • Shula • McCafferty • Sandusky • Schnellenberger • Thomas • Marchibroda • McCormack • Kush • Dowhower • Meyer • Venturi • Marchibroda • Infante • Mora Sr. • Dungy

Boston/New England Patriots Head Coaches
Saban • Holovak • Rush • Mazur • Bengtson • Fairbanks • Erhardt • Meyer • Berry • Rust • MacPherson • Parcells • Carroll • Belichick

UNLV Rebels Head Football Coaches
Ireland • Meyer • Knap • Hyde • Nunnely • Strong • Horton • Robinson • Sanford

SMU Mustangs Head Football Coaches
Morrison • J. Burton Rix • Bell • Stewart • H.N. Russell • Woodard • Meek • Fry • Smith • Meyer • Collins • Gregg • Rossley • Cavan • Bennett