Ray Handley
Encyclopedia
Ray Handley is a former American football
player and coach who is best remembered for his stormy two seasons as head coach of the National Football League
's New York Giants
in the early 1990s.
, Handley played three seasons at running back for Stanford University
beginning in 1963 . During his junior season, Handley gained 936 yards, with his long ground gains during the November 14, 1964 contest against Oregon State helping upset the Beavers, 16-7. The following year began with talk of potential All-American honors, but ended in disappointment, although Handley's running helped defeat arch-rival California-Berkeley, 9-7, in the season finale on November 21.
's San Diego Chargers
on June 11, 1966, but voluntarily left camp one month later, putting an end to his playing career.
, a connection that would prove fruitful in the future. Following a year out of the game in 1970, Handley returned the following year for the first of four more seasons at Stanford.
In 1975, Handley shifted to coaching another branch of the armed services when he accepted an assistant position at the United States Air Force Academy
. In his final year, Parcells served as head coach, but after the latter's departure, Handley once again returned to Stanford, serving five years under both Rod Dowhower
and Paul Wiggin
.
under Parcells, beginning a seven year stretch that saw the team capture two Super Bowl
s. In 1990, after coming close to leaving coaching to enter George Washington University Law School, Handley was promoted to offensive coordinator. Following the Giants' second title in Super Bowl XXV
that season, Parcells announced his retirement, and Handley was then promoted his first head coaching position on May 15, 1991.
George Young picked Handley to serve as head coach of the Giants after then-Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick
left to coach the Cleveland Browns
.
had guided the Giants to an 11-2 record before suffering a leg injury. Backup Jeff Hostetler
finished the regular season, and led the Giants to upset victories against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game and the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl. With Handley in charge of the following training camp, after the resignation of Bill Parcells, he announced that the two quarterbacks would compete for the starting job. This caused some controversy as both fans and commentators felt that Simms shouldn't lose his starting job due to injury. Nonetheless, Hostetler won the battle in training camp and was announced as the starting quarterback. His first game as head coach was a Monday Night Football
game against the San Francisco 49ers
(a rematch of the 1990 NFC Championship). Handley's team would win that game, but Handley would be most remembered for wearing an unusually designed logo shirt (bearing the New York Giants colors and logo). The Monday night win earned Handley the adoration of the fans, but as the team would struggle to an 8-8 record and out of the playoff picture, fan support quickly eroded. (One wag held up a sign reading: "From the Super Bowl to the toilet bowl. Thanks, Ray.") In 1992
, the team fell further to a 6-10 record, leading a combative Handley to trade verbal darts with both the media and his players.
head coach Dan Reeves
. Following his departure, Handley would disappear from the NFL and the public eye. He now resides in the Lake Tahoe
area.
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 is best remembered for his stormy two seasons as head coach of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's 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...
in the early 1990s.
Collegiate career
A native of Reno, NevadaReno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, Handley played three seasons at running back for Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
beginning in 1963 . During his junior season, Handley gained 936 yards, with his long ground gains during the November 14, 1964 contest against Oregon State helping upset the Beavers, 16-7. The following year began with talk of potential All-American honors, but ended in disappointment, although Handley's running helped defeat arch-rival California-Berkeley, 9-7, in the season finale on November 21.
Brief professional playing career
Handley was signed by the American Football LeagueAmerican Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on June 11, 1966, but voluntarily left camp one month later, putting an end to his playing career.
Early coaching jobs
The following year, he returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach, then headed east in 1968 for two years as assistant at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. One of his fellow coaches during this period was Bill ParcellsBill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
, a connection that would prove fruitful in the future. Following a year out of the game in 1970, Handley returned the following year for the first of four more seasons at Stanford.
In 1975, Handley shifted to coaching another branch of the armed services when he accepted an assistant position at the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
. In his final year, Parcells served as head coach, but after the latter's departure, Handley once again returned to Stanford, serving five years under both Rod Dowhower
Rod Dowhower
-External links:...
and Paul Wiggin
Paul Wiggin
Paul Wiggin is a former football player and coach who currently serves as the senior consultant for pro personnel with the Minnesota Vikings....
.
New York Giants
On February 28, 1984, Handley was named offensive backfield coach of the New York GiantsNew 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...
under Parcells, beginning a seven year stretch that saw the team capture two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s. In 1990, after coming close to leaving coaching to enter George Washington University Law School, Handley was promoted to offensive coordinator. Following the Giants' second title in Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
that season, Parcells announced his retirement, and Handley was then promoted his first head coaching position on May 15, 1991.
George Young picked Handley to serve as head coach of the Giants after then-Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
left to coach the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Head coaching stint
His first major decision of his tenure was who would be the starting quarterback. The previous season, Phil SimmsPhil Simms
Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number...
had guided the Giants to an 11-2 record before suffering a leg injury. Backup Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
finished the regular season, and led the Giants to upset victories against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game and the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl. With Handley in charge of the following training camp, after the resignation of Bill Parcells, he announced that the two quarterbacks would compete for the starting job. This caused some controversy as both fans and commentators felt that Simms shouldn't lose his starting job due to injury. Nonetheless, Hostetler won the battle in training camp and was announced as the starting quarterback. His first game as head coach was a Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
(a rematch of the 1990 NFC Championship). Handley's team would win that game, but Handley would be most remembered for wearing an unusually designed logo shirt (bearing the New York Giants colors and logo). The Monday night win earned Handley the adoration of the fans, but as the team would struggle to an 8-8 record and out of the playoff picture, fan support quickly eroded. (One wag held up a sign reading: "From the Super Bowl to the toilet bowl. Thanks, Ray.") In 1992
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
, the team fell further to a 6-10 record, leading a combative Handley to trade verbal darts with both the media and his players.
Post-NFL life
Handley was officially fired on December 30, 1992, and replaced by former Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
head coach Dan Reeves
Dan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He has participated in more Super Bowls as player/assistant coach/Head Coach than anyone else...
. Following his departure, Handley would disappear from the NFL and the public eye. He now resides in the Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
area.
See also
- History of the New York Giants (1979-1993)