Late Colts coach Ron Meyer gave Indianapolis 'a glimpse of what could be'

Ron Meyer, who coached the Indianapolis Colts from 1986-1991, died Tuesday. He was 76 years old.

His coaching career, which took him to SMU (1976-81) and the New England Patriots (1982-84), started at Penn High School in Mishawaka near South Bend. Meyer was just 22 years old and "real intense" when he led the Kingsmen to a 5-4-1 season.

"I could see him right now. Short hair cut, in great shape," said Dave Risner, who played quarterback at Penn that year. "(Meyer) was very intense, very knowledgable. He was a very smart man.

"I wish he would have stayed a lot longer, he could have had a lot of success there."

Meyer suffered an aortic aneurysm while playing golf in Texas and died a few hours later, according to a statement from the family.

"Our family is heartbroken to see him go so suddenly, and we miss the twinkle in his eye that flashed brighter than his Super Bowl ring," the statement said.

Meyer's aspirations were to coach at the highest level, Risner added, so he left after one year to be an assistant at Purdue from 1965-70. He'd previously played quarterback and defensive back for the Boilermakers in 1961-62 and was an Academic All-Big Ten selection.

Meyer later led the Colts to their first division title and playoff appearance in Indy in 1987 on his way to a 36-35 record overall. Six Pro Bowlers, including Eric Dickerson, helped make Meyer's first full season a raving success.

“He literally turned us around in 1986,” said Colts Chief Operating Officer Pete Ward. “We were going nowhere, spiraling downward.”

Ward says Meyer, who infamously brought in the Patriots ground crew during a 1982 game to plow snow from where his kicker would attempt a fourth-quarter field goal in a 0-0 game, was always willing to think outside the box.

He even ran an option offense at one point with the Colts, using a young quarterback named Ricky Turner.

"It was rare in the NFL at that time, but he was willing to try it," Ward said. "He didn’t think like your typical NFL coach.”

The Colts were 0-13 on Dec. 1, 1986 when Meyer was hired. They'd stunk since coming to Indianapolis, going 9-36 overall. Meyer got the team fired up and won the final three games in his debut season, then went 9-6 in 1987 and won the AFC East to reach the playoffs.

"I'm just proud to be a part of this," Meyer said then, "and appreciative to the Irsays for giving me this chance. They took a long-shot on me, you know, and I'm pleased that things have gone well so far."

Added Ward: “It gave our fans their first taste of what it meant to have an NFL team experience success. It gave them a glimpse of what could be."

Meyer was fired Oct. 1, 1991 after an 0-5 start to the year. An Indianapolis Star article recapped the day: When (Jim) Irsay, son of the owner and general manager of the franchise, came to Meyer's office at 7 a.m. today, Meyer said he knew what was about to happen.

"General managers don't come to coaches' offices at that hour on Tuesday morning," Meyer said then, "unless they have something to say."

Ward noted that Meyer's era "ran out of gas" in 1990 and 91, but he he'll always be remembered in Indianapolis as a man with a big heart and a bigger personality.

“I just remember him as being engaging, funny and interesting,” Ward said. “He was a kind heart. He never got mad at somebody. … If he did, it was always followed with an apology."

Meyer is survived by his wife, Cindy, children Ron Jr., Ralph, Elizabeth Petersen and Kathryn Markey. The service for Meyer will be Saturday in Austin, Texas. A scholarship has been established with the John Purdue University Club and donations can be sent to Mackey Arena, 900 John R. Wooden Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47970-2070.

You can find IndyStar sports producer Dakota Crawford on Twitter: @DakotaCrawford_.

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