Professional Football Coach. He played American Legion Baseball and participated in high school football at the quarterback position, leading his team to two consecutive state championships. He enrolled at Jamestown College (North Dakota) where he continued his athletics and following graduation in 1953, he served two years with the United States Military. He launched his lengthy coaching career in 1956 at the parochial high school level and rejoined the collegiate ranks in 1963 as an assistant at North Dakota State University. He was elevated to their head coach in 1966 and went onto an illustrious tenure (1966 to 1972) while with the Bisons, as he led them to six North Central Conference titles, three undefeated seasons (1968, 1969 and 1970) and two College Division national championships (1968 and 1969). He amassed a 61 win 7 loss 1 tie record at North Dakota State University. He reached the professional level in 1973, serving as backfield coach with the New England Patriots and advanced to their offensive coordinator in 1977. In 1978, he co-shared head coaching duties along with defensive coordinator Hank Bullough following the suspension of Chuck Fairbanks for the final game of the regular season against the Dolphins. Erhardt was named permanent head coach (1979 to 1981) in 1979 and guided the Patriots to two consecutive winning seasons (1979 and 1980). He moved onto the New York Giants where he served as offensive coordinator under Ray Perkins and later Bill Parcells. During Parcells tenure, Erhardt helped direct the Giants' offense to two Super Bowl titles (1987 and 1991). From 1992 to 1996, he served as the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator under Bill Cowher and was on staff when they appeared in Super Bowl XXX in 1996. He concluded his career with the New York Jets from 1997 to 1998. He was inducted into the North Dakota State University Bisons Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980.