Obituary: Ernie Stautner

[MavKikiNYC]

Hall-of-Fame lineman Ernie Stautner dies

BY MAC ENGEL

STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER


Ernie Stautner, longtime defensive coordinator with the Cowboys, died today. He was 80.

Stautner was with the Cowboys organization from 1966-1988, serving as defensive line coach from 1966-72 and defensive coordinator from 1973-1988.

Under Stautner’s leadership, the Cowboys’ defense ranked in the NFL’s top 10 16 times and the league’s top five 10 times. The Cowboys’ famed "Doomsday Defense" began to emerge shortly after Stautner’s arrival.

He also helped mold "Doomsday II," which carried Dallas to its second Super Bowl title in 1977. Bob Lilly, George Andrie, Harvey Martin, Randy White, Ed Jones and John Dutton were some of the players who played under Stautner.

Stautner, who was an All-Pro defensive end and tackle, played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1950-63. He was named to nine Pro Bowls and is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1950s. Stautner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on September 13, 1969, in his first year of eligibility.

"We are deeply saddened by Ernie’s passing," said the Hall’s interim executive director, Ron Dougherty. "His lifetime of devotion to the game especially his contributions of playing at a Hall of Fame caliber is a legacy that will be carried in Canton forever."

Stautner died at a nursing home in Colorado.

[MavKikiNYC]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ernie Stautner (b. April 20, 1925- February 16, 2006) was a former American football player and coach.

Stautner played his entire career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite being small even for his day at 6-1 and 235 pounds and playing on some bad teams, he was able to distinguish himself as one of the best defensive linemen of his era. Stautner was selected to nine Pro Bowls in his twelve year career.


Stautner was selected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on September 13, 1969, and is the only player to ever have his number (70) retired by the Steelers.


From 1966 to 1988, he was an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys, and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1973.


From 1995 to 1997, he returned to Germany to become head coach of Frankfurt Galaxy, winning the World Bowl in 1995 for this NFL Europe team.


Stautner died at his Carbondale, Colorado home on February 16, 2006, from complications of Alzheimer's disease, aged 80.