Ron Erhardt, ex-Giants coach, dies at 80

Ron Erhardt, the offensive coordinator for the Giants' first two Super Bowl champions and the offensive yin to Bill Parcells' yang, died in Florida Wednesday at the age of 80.

Erhardt coached the Giants from 1982 to 1991, winning Super Bowls XXI and XXV with two different starting quarterbacks: Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler. He was also the head coach of the Patriots from 1979-81 and after his time with the Giants was offensive coordinator for the Steelers (1992-95) and Jets (1996).

"Ron was a wonderful man and a great coach," Giants president and chief executive John Mara said. "He was a big part of our success in the 1980s and was an important contributor to our first two Super Bowl championships."

Tom Coughlin, now the head coach of the Giants, was an assistant under Erhardt from 1988-90.

"I enjoyed Ron and his personality," Coughlin said. "Ron had a lot of fun, let's put it that way. He was a [kidder]. He enjoyed it and everyone enjoyed it with him. He had one of those cantankerous laughs."

Erhardt also had a solid scheme that stood the test of time, Coughlin said.

"We were a team that ran the ball and relied heavily on play-action pass," Coughlin said. "We had a means of expression that was direct and to the point. And to a certain extent, that same system followed me to Boston College and Jacksonville and when we came back here (to the Giants). The forebearer of the book we use today was used in those days. And a lot of guys that were in that system took it with them."

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"I was privileged to be coached by him," Hostetler said. "I learned an awful lot from him. He went on and did some amazing things offensively. What amazes me is that system is still out there, still being used, and works as successfully as ever."

Besides the Super Bowls, the Giants reached the playoffs five times and won three NFC East titles with Erhardt as the offensive coordinator.

Erhardt is survived by his wife, Anita, four children and eight grandchildren.