Ernie Meyer was born June 23, 1904, in West Bridgewater, PA.

Following his high school graduation from Borger High School in Borger, TX, Ernie attended Geneva College, where he was a standout lineman for the Geneva football team in the mid-1920s. Six feet tall and 200 pounds, Ernie played for the Geneva Covenanters from 1924 to 1926, earning letters all three years. In 1926, Ernie played with fellow Beaver County Sports Hall of Famers Mack Flenniken and Al Maglisceau on the Geneva football team, along with their legendary quarterback and Beaver County Sports Hall of Famer Cal Hubbard, in the team's 16-7 historic upset of a powerful Harvard team.

In 1930, Ernie played football in the National Football League in the inaugural season of the Portsmouth Spartans (nka the Detroit Lions). The team finished with a 5-6-3 record. As a rookie, Ernie started as a guard for the first game of the season against the Newark Tornadoes. The Spartans went on to a 13-6 win at home in Universal Stadium, which is now known as Spartan Municipal Stadium, in Portsmouth, OH. This stadium hosted the NFL's Portsmouth Spartans from 1930 to 1933.

With the Portsmouth Spartans, Ernie appeared in nine NFL games and started five games. During Ernie's time with the Spartans, the league had many renowned players, including legendary football player, coach, and Beaver County Sports Hall of Famer Forrest Douds. During the season, Ernie saw Pro Football Hall of Famers "Galloping Ghost" Red Grange, Curly Lambeau, Ernie Nevers, and Ken Strong.

Ernie coached football at Rochester Area High School in Rochester, PA, and later was head football coach at Berwyn High School, located near Chicago, IL. Ernie coached the Berwyn Bulldogs from 1947 to 1950. Ernie was inducted into the Geneva College Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its 2020 Legacy Hall of Fame Class.

Ernest "Ernie" Henry Meyer died January 23, 1979, at age 74, in Paoli, PA.