Ray Handley

Robert Ray Handley (October 8, 1944 – February 5, 2026) was an American football player and coach. He is best remembered for his stormy two seasons as a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants from 1991 to 1992.

Early life Handley was born in Artesia, New Mexico, on October 8, 1944, to Robert Douglas Handley, a rancher, and Ruby Handley , a teacher. The family moved to Reno, where Handley was an all-state high school football player.

Collegiate career Handley played three seasons as a running back for Stanford The Monday Night Football win helped Handley with most Giants fans, but when the team finished with an 8–8 record and out of the playoff picture, fan support quickly eroded. One fan held up a sign reading: "From the Super Bowl to the toilet bowl. Thanks, Ray." Fans also chanted "Ray must go!" during the 1991 and 1992 seasons, a play on the "Joe must go!" chants that New York Jets fans had delivered when Joe Walton had been coaching that team a few years earlier. 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.

His relationship with the defensive players was also strained, particularly when he tapped Rod Rust to be the defensive coordinator in 1992. The defense was not thrilled about Rust's hiring, especially knowing that the veteran coach was coming off a 1–15 mark as head coach of the New England Patriots in 1990. Additionally, the players preferred a more aggressive scheme to Rust's read-and-react scheme. This led to some frustration during games, where the players would often ignore Rust's calls and call their own defensive assignments in the huddle. Handley's communication with the media became another reason for his dismissal, as he would often refuse to answer questions, even going as far as walking out of one press conference after being asked about his handling of Hostetler and Simms as the team's starting quarterback. He scoffed at the question, calling it "ridiculous" and unfair to him and his quarterbacks. After the reporter persisted about why he would not answer the question, Handley stormed off while telling the rest of the reporters to "get him straightened out."

Post-NFL life Handley was officially fired on December 30, 1992, and replaced by former Denver Broncos head coach Dan Reeves. Following his departure, Handley largely withdrew from the public eye. He later resided in the Lake Tahoe area. Before Super Bowl XLII in 2008 when the Giants were playing the Patriots, Newsday reporter Jim Baumbach unearthed Handley's unlisted home telephone number and called him, in the hopes of talking about the Giants. Handley was unhappy at being contacted, and after being told it was for a "where are they now" interview, he said "No, I'm not the least bit interested. Thank you very much." and hung up the phone, making his lone post-firing public statement a very brief one.

Handley died on February 5, 2026, at the age of 81.

Head coaching record Team Year Regular Season PostseasonWon LostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %ResultNYG19918804th in NFC East – – – –NYG199261004th in NFC East – – – –NYG total 14180 – – – Total 14180