John Edwin Meyer (February 20, 1942 – November 4, 2020) was an American professional football player and coach. He played as a linebacker for the Houston Oilers in the American Football League (AFL). Biography Meyer graduated from Brother Rice High School. Playing career Meyer played at the collegiate level at the University of Notre Dame. He played with the Houston Oilers of the AFL as a linebacker during the 1966 AFL season after being traded to the team by the Buffalo Bills. The Bills had drafted him in the fifteenth round of the 1965 AFL Draft. Meyer had also been drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth round of the 1965 NFL Draft. While with the Oilers, John played all fourteen games in 1966 at linebacker before suffering a career-ending injury. After his playing career, John became one of the youngest assistant coaches in the NFL. Coaching career Meyer served as an assistant coach with the Oilers, New England Patriots and Detroit Lions before joining the Green Bay Packers. With the Packers, he served as linebackers coach from 1975 to 1979 and defensive coordinator from 1980 to 1983. Following his time in the NFL, Meyer later became a part-time assistant coach at St. Norbert College. Death Meyer died from COVID-19 on November 4, 2020, at age 78. References 1942 births 2020 deaths Sportspeople from Chicago Players of American football from Chicago Houston Oilers players American football linebackers Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players National Football League defensive coordinators Green Bay Packers coaches Detroit Lions coaches New England Patriots coaches Houston Oilers coaches St. Norbert Green Knights football coaches American Football League players Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois