He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears from 1933 to 1940.

[1] Manders began his NFL career as a fullback but was moved by Bears head coach George Halas to the halfback position in 1937.

[1] He was used primarily as a blocker during the 1939 and 1940 Bears seasons and was slated to be moved from the backfield to the line to play as a guard in 1941.

[2] He was also a member of the Chicago team coached by George Halas that defeated the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship Game by the memorable score of 73–0.

He was the older brother of Clarence "Pug" Manders, who played contemporaneously as a blocking back for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers.