Bernie Masterson

Bernie Masterson
	Masterson from 1947 Cornhusker
Biographical details
Born	August 10, 1911; Shenandoah, Iowa, U.S.
Died	May 16, 1963 (aged 51); Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
1931–1933	Nebraska
1934–1940	Chicago Bears
Position(s)	Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1940	Stanford (assistant)
1941	UCLA (assistant)
1945	St. Mary's Pre-Flight
1946–1947	Nebraska
1948	NY Yankees (assistant)
1950	Iowa (backfield)
1951	Lewis
Head coaching record
Overall	14–18–1
Bowls	1–0
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
	Midlands (1951); NFL (1940);
Awards
	Second-team All-Pro (1936); 2× Second-team All-Big Six (1932, 1933);

Bernard Edward Masterson (August 10, 1911 – May 16, 1963) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1946 to 1947, compiling a record of 5–13.^[1] Masterson played college football at Nebraska from 1931 to 1933.^[2] He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears from 1934 to 1940.^[3]

Playing career

Masterson was a three-sport athlete at Lincoln High. He was an all-state back in football, a starter on the 1930 state championship basketball team, and a track star.^[4]

Moving on to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, he starred from 1931 to 1933 as a back on three straight unbeaten Big Six championship teams. He was selected All-Big Six in 1933.^[5]

Masterson played quarterback for the Chicago Bears from 1934 to 1940 when the Bears were known as the "Monsters of the Midway". During his pro career, the Bears were 59–19–3 and were in three NFL championship playoffs. Bernie has an NFL career total of 3,372 passing yards and 35 touchdowns.^[6]

Coaching career

In 1940, Clark Shaughnessy hired Masterson to coach Stanford quarterback Frankie Albert.^[7]

He joined the United States Navy in 1942, and coached Navy teams for Iowa and St. Mary's Pre-Flight until 1945.^[8]

He came back to Nebraska as head football coach for 1946 and 1947. He went 5–13 in the two seasons as head coach.

Death and honors

Masterson died of a heart attack in Chicago on May 16, 1963, and was buried at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.^[8]^[9] He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1977.^[5]

Head coaching record


Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Saint Mary's Pre-Flight (Independent) (1945)
1945	Saint Mary's Pre-Flight	2–4–1
Saint Mary's Pre-Flight:		2–4–1
Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big Six Conference) (1946–1947)
1946	Nebraska	3–6	3–2	T–3rd
1947	Nebraska	2–7	2–3	4th
Nebraska:		5–13	5–5
Lewis Flyers (Midlands Conference) (1951)
1951	Lewis	7–1	3–0	1st	W Corn Bowl
Lewis:		7–1	3–0
Total:		14–18–1
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth