Phil Handler
| Date of birth | July 21, 1908 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Date of death | December 8, 1968 (aged 60) |
| Place of death | Skokie, Illinois |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| College | TCU |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1937–1942 | Chicago Cardinals (asst.) |
| 1943 | Chicago Cardinals |
| 1944 | Card-Pitt (co-coach) |
| 1945 | Chicago Cardinals |
| 1946–1948 | Chicago Cardinals (asst.) |
| 1949 | Chicago Cardinals (co-coach) |
| 1950–1951 | Chicago Cardinals (asst.) |
| 1951 | Chicago Cardinals (co-coach) |
| 1952–1967 | Chicago Bears (asst.) |
| As player | |
| 1930–1936 | Chicago Cardinals |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career stats | |
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Philip Jacob Handler (July 21, 1908 – December 8, 1968) was an American 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.
Prior to his professional debut, Handler played college football 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.
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 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-coach during the 1935 and 1936 seasons.
Upon his retirement during the 1937 NFL season, 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.
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