Phil Handler
Encyclopedia
Philip Jacob Handler was a football
player and coach who spent his entire professional career in the city of Chicago. On three separate occasions, Handler served as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals
, and later as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears
. He served as an assistant coach for the Cardinals when they won the 1947 NFL Championship
; and with the Bears when they won the 1963 NFL Championship.
at Texas Christian University
. He played at TCU for three years beginning in 1927 under legendary head coach Francis Schmidt
. During his college career, Handler earned All-SWC honors as an offensive guard, and was an Honorable Mention All-American. In 1929 Handler and the Horned Frogs won the Southwest Conference.
during the 1935 and 1936 seasons.
, Handler was named to the Cardinals' coaching staff. His career with the Cardinals appeared to have ended on November 28, 1938, when he and head coach Milan Creighton
resigned following a 2–9 finish, however Handler later reconsidered his decision and continued as an assistant coach.
On July 3, 1943, Handler took over the Cardinals' head coaching duties when head coach Jimmy Conzelman accepted a front office position with baseball's St. Louis Browns
. However, with manning shortages due to World War II
, the Cardinals lost all 10 games that season. The team then merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers
in 1944 to form what was referred to as "Card-Pitt
" in the standings. Handler and Walt Kiesling
were named the team's co-coaches. That effort also resulted in a winless season in 1944, and after a 1–9 season the next year, Handler gave way for the returning Conzelman.
The return of Conzelman and many of their top players, helped the Cardinals improve to 6–5 in 1946, followed by the franchise's only undisputed NFL title the next season, with a 28–21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles
on December 28, 1947, at Comiskey Park
in Chicago. That season Handler was an assistant coach on the Cardinals' NFL Championship team.
In 1949 Conzelman again resigned as head coach of the Cardinals. As a result, Handler and fellow assistant Buddy Parker
were named as co-head coaches for the team in a unique arrangement on February 3, 1949. The decision was brought about by the two owners' different coaching preferences. The decision is was blamed on the Cardinals 2–4 start that season. However Parker soon took over as sole coach when Handler shifted to a front office role later that season.
When Parker left after the season, Curly Lambeau
, the legendary coach and founder the Green Bay Packers
, was hired as his replacement. Upon taking over the coaching position, Lambeau brought back Handler as the team's offensive line coach. However the new staff continued to struggle, and after a 7–15 mark, Lambeau resigned as the team's coach on December 7, 1951. Handler and Cecil Isbell
were then left to coach the team's last two games.
. In addition to his coaching duties, Handler also served as a scout for the team for the next 16 seasons.
In 1956 Handler helped the team reach the NFL Championship game. He then helped the squad capture the NFL title seven years later, in a storied 14–10 Bears victory over the New York Giants
, on a frigid day at Wrigley Field
in late 1963.
had ended, Handler was vacationing in Florida
when he suffered the first of two heart attacks and spent several weeks in a hospital for treatment. Upon his release, doctors decreed that he would not only have to give up his coaching duties, but also would be unable to attend Bears' games, as well. Handler followed those orders, but just moments after a dramatic 17–16 Bears win over the Los Angeles Rams in Los Angeles, he died of his third heart attack. Two days after his passing, more than 500 people attended the funeral, with the Bears canceling a team practice so players, coaches and staff could attend. The following Sunday, December 15, 1968, when the Bears hosted the Green Bay Packers at Wrigley Field, a moment of silence was held before kickoff.
Handler is a member of the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame, the Chicago Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and the B'nai Brith Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. His 17 seasons as a Chicago Bears assistant rank second in the history of the NFL's oldest franchise.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach who spent his entire professional career in the city of Chicago. On three separate occasions, Handler served as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and later as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He served as an assistant coach for the Cardinals when they won the 1947 NFL Championship
NFL Championship Game, 1947
The 1947 National Football League Championship game was the 15th annual championship game and was held December 28, 1947 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The attendance was 30,759. The game featured the Western Division champion Chicago Cardinals and the Eastern Division champion Philadelphia Eagles...
; and with the Bears when they won the 1963 NFL Championship.
College
Prior to his professional debut, Handler played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
. He played at TCU for three years beginning in 1927 under legendary head coach Francis Schmidt
Francis Schmidt
Francis Albert Schmidt was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at the University of Tulsa , the University of Arkansas , Texas Christian University , Ohio State University , and the University of Idaho , compiling a...
. During his college career, Handler earned All-SWC honors as an offensive guard, and was an Honorable Mention All-American. In 1929 Handler and the Horned Frogs won the Southwest Conference.
Pro Football player
After graduating from college in 1930, Handler decided to pursue a career in pro football. However he was an undersized lineman, standing at just 5' 11" 190 lb (86.2 kg). Despite Cardinals' coach Ernie Nevers' dismissive comment upon his arrival with the Cardinals in the summer of 1930: "You'll never make it kid. You're too small," Handler went on to a seven-year playing career with the team. He also served in a player-coachPlayer-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
during the 1935 and 1936 seasons.
Chicago Cardinals
Upon his retirement during the 1937 NFL season1937 NFL season
The 1937 NFL season was the 18th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Rams joined the league as an expansion team. Meanwhile, the Redskins relocated from Boston, Massachusetts to Washington, D.C....
, Handler was named to the Cardinals' coaching staff. His career with the Cardinals appeared to have ended on November 28, 1938, when he and head coach Milan Creighton
Milan Creighton
Milan Creighton was an American football coach, and was the head coach for the National Football League's Chicago Cardinals from 1935 to 1938. He compiled a record of 16-26-4 in four seasons. He also played seven years for the Cardinals....
resigned following a 2–9 finish, however Handler later reconsidered his decision and continued as an assistant coach.
On July 3, 1943, Handler took over the Cardinals' head coaching duties when head coach Jimmy Conzelman accepted a front office position with baseball's St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. However, with manning shortages due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Cardinals lost all 10 games that season. The team then merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in 1944 to form what was referred to as "Card-Pitt
Card-Pitt
Card-Pitt was the name for the team created by the temporary merger of two National Football League teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Cardinals, during the 1944 season. The teams were forced to merge, because both had lost many players to World War II military service...
" in the standings. Handler and Walt Kiesling
Walt Kiesling
Walter Andrew Kiesling was an American football player and coach.-Playing career:A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Kiesling played both offensive and defensive line at the University of St. Thomas...
were named the team's co-coaches. That effort also resulted in a winless season in 1944, and after a 1–9 season the next year, Handler gave way for the returning Conzelman.
The return of Conzelman and many of their top players, helped the Cardinals improve to 6–5 in 1946, followed by the franchise's only undisputed NFL title the next season, with a 28–21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on December 28, 1947, at Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
in Chicago. That season Handler was an assistant coach on the Cardinals' NFL Championship team.
In 1949 Conzelman again resigned as head coach of the Cardinals. As a result, Handler and fellow assistant Buddy Parker
Buddy Parker
Raymond "Buddy" Parker is a former football player and coach in the National Football League who served as head coach for three teams: the Chicago Cardinals, the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers....
were named as co-head coaches for the team in a unique arrangement on February 3, 1949. The decision was brought about by the two owners' different coaching preferences. The decision is was blamed on the Cardinals 2–4 start that season. However Parker soon took over as sole coach when Handler shifted to a front office role later that season.
When Parker left after the season, Curly Lambeau
Curly Lambeau
Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau was founder, player, and first coach of the Green Bay Packers professional American football team...
, the legendary coach and founder the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, was hired as his replacement. Upon taking over the coaching position, Lambeau brought back Handler as the team's offensive line coach. However the new staff continued to struggle, and after a 7–15 mark, Lambeau resigned as the team's coach on December 7, 1951. Handler and Cecil Isbell
Cecil Isbell
-Pro:-External links:...
were then left to coach the team's last two games.
Chicago Bears
After more than two decades with the same team, Handler moved to the north side of Chicago to become the offensive line coach for the Chicago Bears on July 19, 1952. There he soon became a top assistant under coach George HalasGeorge Halas
George Stanley Halas, Sr. , nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was a player, coach, owner and pioneer in professional American football. He was the iconic longtime leader of the NFL's Chicago Bears...
. In addition to his coaching duties, Handler also served as a scout for the team for the next 16 seasons.
In 1956 Handler helped the team reach the NFL Championship game. He then helped the squad capture the NFL title seven years later, in a storied 14–10 Bears victory over the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, on a frigid day at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
in late 1963.
Death and closure
Several months after the 1967 NFL season1967 NFL season
The 1967 NFL season was the 48th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the New Orleans Saints. The league's teams were realigned into four divisions: the Capitol and Century Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Central and...
had ended, Handler was vacationing in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
when he suffered the first of two heart attacks and spent several weeks in a hospital for treatment. Upon his release, doctors decreed that he would not only have to give up his coaching duties, but also would be unable to attend Bears' games, as well. Handler followed those orders, but just moments after a dramatic 17–16 Bears win over the Los Angeles Rams in Los Angeles, he died of his third heart attack. Two days after his passing, more than 500 people attended the funeral, with the Bears canceling a team practice so players, coaches and staff could attend. The following Sunday, December 15, 1968, when the Bears hosted the Green Bay Packers at Wrigley Field, a moment of silence was held before kickoff.
Handler is a member of the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame, the Chicago Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and the B'nai Brith Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. His 17 seasons as a Chicago Bears assistant rank second in the history of the NFL's oldest franchise.