Career
He served as the head football coach at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1946 to 1947, compiling a record of 5–13. Masterson played college football at Nebraska from 1931 to 1933. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears from 1934 to 1940.
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. 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. Materson 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. In 1940, Clark Shaughnessy hired Masterson to coach Stanford quarterback Frankie Albert. He came back to Nebraska as head football coach for 1946 and 1947.
He went 5–13 in the two seasons as head coach.